Russian forces have made significant progress in a narrow corridor in eastern Ukraine as Moscow’s offensive to seize territory before Western military aid arrives appears to be intensifying, The Guardian reports.
Pictures posted by Kremlin military bloggers show a Russian tricolor flying over the destroyed village of Ocheretyne. Russian troops reportedly entered the territory northwest of the town of Avdiivka on Sunday, having advanced about 5 kilometers in 10 days.
This comes as Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry announced it was suspending consular services for military-age men living abroad, except for those returning to Ukraine, in a move aimed at boosting recruitment.
The Ukrainian army withdrew from Avdiivka in February and tried to establish a new line of defense in settlements on the Durna River, but in recent weeks reinforced Russian units have advanced, using air-launched cruise bombs to pulverize Ukrainian bunkers.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry said Ukrainian troops fled Ocheretyne in small groups and under heavy fire. Video footage showed a destroyed administrative building with windows blown out and streets littered with rubble. The civilians seemed to have left.
