Ukrainian Forces Claim to Shoot Down Russian Attack Helicopter in Fierce Battle near Avdiivka

Defense News ,Ukraine Russia War :- Ukrainian forces successfully shot down a Russian attack helicopter near the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. The intense street-to-street combat is part of Russia's ongoing four-month campaign to surround Kyiv's defending troops. Using a portable anti-aircraft missile, Ukrainian soldiers took down the Ka-52 Alligator, a deadly weapon in the Russian air force, according to Commander Oleksandr Tarnavskyi.

Despite wintry conditions, the 1,500-km line of contact has seen little change in recent months. Avdiivka has become a major focus for Moscow's forces as they intensify efforts to cut off key supply routes for Ukrainian troops. The UK Defence Ministry highlighted the significance of the city in its assessment.

Ukrainian troops are engaged in street-to-street combat, striving to maintain their main supply route amid heavy bombardment. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported repelling 40 enemy assaults around Avdiivka in the past 24 hours, double the daily assaults at other front line points.

The Russian army is reportedly aiming to disrupt a crucial logistics supply route for Ukraine near the village of Lastochkyne, west of Avdiivka. Electronic warfare has been employed to disable the Starlink communications system used by Ukrainian troops, according to Russia's Pravda newspaper.

Despite Ukraine's defensive efforts, Russian troops have slowly advanced since October, turning the conflict into a challenging and gruesome battle for both sides. Avdiivka is now at the center of the struggle, reminiscent of the lengthy and bloody battle for Bakhmut, which ended with Russia capturing the city in May of the previous year.

Both Bakhmut and Avdiivka are in Ukraine's Donetsk region, seized by Moscow-backed rebels in 2014 and illegally annexed by Russia in 2022. Russia's goal is to capture the entire Donetsk region, where it currently holds just over half of the territory. The situation remains tense as Ukrainian forces fiercely resist the ongoing Russian offensive.