Last Avdiivka Coke Plant workers evacuated, civilians remain in city’s last shelter, city head says
The last 16 employees of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, who were maintaining the plant, were evacuated on Nov. 7, Avdiivka’s military administration head, Vitaliy Barabash, has told Ukrainian news outlet Suspilne.
Read also: Russia launches major offensive on Avdiyivka – Butusov
According to Barabash, 17 civilians are still refusing to evacuate and remain in the only surviving shelter in the city.
Barabash also questioned the logic behind the capture of the coke plant by Russian forces, saying it was a potential trap.
"The (Avdiivka) spoil tip is a gray zone, which they (the Russians) are now shelling with artillery, destroying the plant itself, trying to carry out assaults in that direction,” he said.
“But there are no breakthroughs; the Ukrainian Armed Forces are bravely defending their positions.”
Russia’s offensive on Avdiivka — What is known
Russian troops intensified their offensive on Avdiivka on Oct. 10, launching massive attacks on the front-line Donbas town.
The head of Avdiiivka’s military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said that Oct. 10 saw “probably the largest attack on the city in the entire full-scale war,” but the situation was under control.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the Russian military wants to surround Avdiivka, and is throwing a large amount of equipment and personnel into battle.
Read also: Russians to launch third wave of Avdiivka offensive as soon as weather improves
Barabash said on Oct. 20 that Russian troops had launched a new wave of assaults. The situation remains difficult, he said at that time.
Since the beginning of the Russian offensive on Avdiivka, the losses of the occupation forces in Donetsk Oblast amounted to 6,500 soldiers, Tavria Defense Forces spokesperson, Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, said earlier.
Russian invasion forces have eased their attacks on Avdiivka to replace their losses and regroup, Shtupun said on Nov. 2.
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