Situation is "threatening"

Lack of ammunition: USA warns of the fall of Avdiivka

(Bild: APA/AFP/Genya SAVILOV)

The US government is warning of an imminent capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, which has been embattled for months, by the Russian army. The reason for this is the blatant lack of artillery ammunition, which is also caused by the Republican blockade around the US Congress.

"Avdiivka is in danger of falling into Russian hands," said the communications director of the US National Security Council, John Kirby, on Thursday (local time) in Washington. "This is happening in large part because the Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition."

Russian attacks in waves
Russia is sending waves of conscripts to attack Ukrainian positions. As the US Congress has not yet passed the corresponding supplementary legislation for further aid to Ukraine, the urgently needed artillery shells cannot be delivered to Ukraine.

A Ukrainian soldier on an armored vehicle near Avdiivka

(Bild: APA/AFP/Genya SAVILOV)

According to Ukrainian observers, the situation in Avdiivka is becoming increasingly difficult. The advance of Russian forces threatens to encircle the defenders. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday: "We are doing our utmost to ensure that our soldiers have sufficient administrative and technological capabilities to save as many Ukrainian lives as possible."

Ukraine sent assault brigade for reinforcement
On Thursday, Ukraine sent reinforcements to the almost completely destroyed small town. In view of a partial retreat in the town, the 3rd Assault Brigade, one of Ukraine's most important combat units, said it had been hastily deployed there. The brigade describes the situation in Avdiivka on Telegram as "hell" and "threatening and unstable".

Deputy brigade commander Maxym Zhorin explained that the fighting in Avdiivka was much fiercer than in the battle for Bakhmut and that the Ukrainian troops were outnumbered and outgunned. Nevertheless, the assault brigade had inflicted heavy losses on the Russian invasion troops during an attack in parts of the city. "The situation at the time of the brigade's arrival was extremely critical." Russia and Ukraine consider Avdiivka to be strategically important for the complete control of the eastern Ukrainian industrial regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbass.

"The price of inaction is high"
According to Kirby, Russian forces have now reached the Ukrainian trenches in Avdiivka and are beginning to overwhelm the defenses. "The price of congressional inaction is high." The dispute is being carried out on the shoulders of Ukrainian soldiers, he said. "Congress must act immediately."

Although a multi-billion dollar military aid package for Ukraine was recently approved by the US Senate, it still has to be passed by the House of Representatives. The Republicans have a narrow majority in the second chamber of parliament, and MPs from the right-wing fringe of the party have long opposed further US aid for Ukraine.