Russian forces have launched a third wave of assaults on the industrial town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, targeting the town from two new directions, according to Ukrainian officials. The ongoing offensive by Moscow seeks to capture the near-encircled town, which has been a focal point of intense fighting for nearly two months.

Vitaliy Barabash, the head of Avdiivka's military administration, revealed that the latest wave of attacks represents a new strategy by Russian forces. He stated that the enemy has opened two additional directions in their assault, signaling their determination to capture Avdiivka at any cost. The objective of the new offensives is to distract Ukrainian defenses and close the gap west of the town, potentially resulting in its complete encirclement.

Military analysts have noted that Russian forces have been making gradual gains in the area surrounding Avdiivka, but at an incredibly high cost. The town, once home to approximately 30,000 people, now houses around 1,300 remaining civilians.

Avdiivka is located in the Donetsk region, which has been partially under the control of Kremlin-backed separatists since 2014. This region, along with three other Ukrainian territories, was claimed by Moscow as annexed last year.

In a separate incident, Ukrainian authorities announced that they had carried out an overnight drone attack on a major oil depot in Russian-controlled territory in the eastern Luhansk region. The Ukrainian regional head, Artem Lysogor, published a video showing a large fire and billowing smoke emanating from an industrial oil drum, indicating the destruction of the depot.

Both sides also reported the downing of enemy drones. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 30 Ukrainian drones, while Kyiv claimed to have shot down 18 out of the 23 drones launched by Russia. In addition, Ukrainian forces said they had successfully destroyed one guided missile.

Tragically, the aftermath of a Russian shelling attack last week in the eastern city of Novogrodivka led to the death of a child. The Ukrainian interior ministry confirmed that rescuers discovered the body of the deceased child amidst the rubble of a residential building.

As the assault on Avdiivka intensifies and both sides continue to engage in various military actions, the situation in eastern Ukraine remains highly volatile and the prospects of a peaceful resolution appear increasingly distant.