Russian forces mobilized for new attacks on the strategically important town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine during Friday.
Something that indicates that, despite large losses of soldiers and material, they are still focused on occupying the Ukrainian city, writes ISW.
Geolocated images from the area on October 20 show that Russian forces made some advances in Kasnohorivka, about five kilometers north of the strategically and symbolically important town of Avdiivka, writes ISW which compiled the last few days of fighting in the area.
So far, Russia has had limited success with the offensives in Avdiivka – and at great cost in human life and materiel on the Russian side.
The reason Russia is focusing on the city is believed to be that it is close to an important logistics hub for the city of Donetsk, which Russia has occupied since 2014.
200 armored vehicles knocked out
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, on October 19-20, almost 50 tanks and over 100 armored vehicles were knocked out. In the last four days, there have been 200 armored vehicles, according to Ukrainian data, ISW writes.
At the same time, things are moving in the south of Ukraine, near the city of Kherson, which Ukraine recaptured last fall.
Battle for the Dnieper
There are various reports that Ukrainian forces have managed to establish temporary positions or bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the Dnieper river, which has been under Russian occupation since the beginning of the large-scale invasion.
According to ISW’s update on October 20, there is continued information that Ukrainian troops are on the eastern bank of the river.
If you could hold those positions, it would mean a new front line and a headache for Russia, says military analyst Philip Ingram to Sky News.