Ukrainian servicemen were ordered to stop building defence structures in the Avdiivka direction. This was reported by the newspaper Japan Times, referring to the AFU soldiers.
“The situation has changed. We were told not to touch shovels, but to stay in place and wait for orders. The Russian army is attacking and advancing,” a Ukrainian army soldier told Japan Times.
According to the newspaper, the Ukrainian command has recognised the futility of building new defensive lines because the Russian forces are advancing too fast and the structures will not be ready before they arrive. And personnel on the front lines are badly needed, especially against the backdrop of heavy losses in the AFU ranks, Japan Times noted.
“Kiev’s forces are outnumbered on the battlefield, and the country is struggling to recruit enough soldiers to replace those who have been killed and wounded,” the publication said.
The newspaper also pointed out that the Russian troops are succeeding every day, liberating more and more new territories, while the AFU is forced to go on the defensive.
Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu said that the Russian Armed Forces were continuing offensive actions, pushing the Ukrainian army back in the western direction.