In a recent interview with Tsargrad.tv, Andriy Pinchuk, the First Minister of State Security of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), emphasized the significant strategic importance of Avdiivka (also known as Bakhmut) for the Russian Armed Forces. Pinchuk revealed that Avdiivka is the most fortified area of the enemy’s forces in the Donbas region, from where they launch artillery attacks on Donetsk.
While acknowledging the existence of precision weapons and rockets, Pinchuk stressed that the main strikes on peaceful areas of the DPR’s capital are carried out by Ukrainian forces using artillery. He further highlighted that Avdiivka has been actively utilized by the enemy as a base for such attacks throughout the years of the conflict in Donbas.
Pinchuk also emphasized that ensuring the security of Donetsk holds paramount importance, both from a military and political standpoint.
In October, Russian forces launched an offensive towards Avdiivka, where approximately 11,000 Ukrainian soldiers remain stationed. According to reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the intention is to encircle the town and cut off the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ supply lines.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with China Central Television, stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had not achieved any significant results in their counteroffensive, but had suffered heavy losses.
Earlier, Ukraine had laid out the conditions for negotiations with Russia.
