The defense line of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Avdiivka is shifting westward – Bild expert

The defense line of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Avdiivka is shifting westward.

This assessment was made by military expert Julian Röpke of Bild.

In early March, he reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were struggling to maintain defense along the line of Berdychivka – Semyonovka – Orlovske – Tonenke to the west of Avdiivka.

According to the analyst’s current data, the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continues to fight in Berdychivka. He assesses the situation in Orlovske and Tonenke as critical for Ukraine.

Some sources claim that these two villages have already come under Russian fire control. According to the expert, the Ukrainian defense line is now shifting westward towards the village of Umanske (green line on the map).

“The new defense line is shifting here, following rivers and water bodies. This means that they will try to fortify this area. This is extremely critical for Ukraine because it has no other defense lines to the west. That is, it must hold this territory. But it is also critical for Russia,” Röpke notes.

He reminds that the Russian Armed Forces advanced westward from Avdiivka for several days after the fall of the city, but their advance was halted afterward.