The recent advance of Russian forces on Ukraine's eastern front appears to be slowing as Kyiv's embattled units establish new defensive lines following the fall of Avdiivka last month.
Ukrainian troops appear to have avoided a feared collapse of local defensive lines following their withdrawal from Avdviivka in February, after years of tough fighting over the fortified Donetsk settlement in the east of the country. Russian forces scored limited advances at other points along the Donetsk front, though this has not precipitated a breakthrough of Ukrainian lines there.
The Institute for the Study of War's Sunday update of the battlefield situation reported continued "positional engagements" but no significant Russian gains.
The New York Times reported this weekend that Russia's slow advance has become bogged down around the Donetsk villages of Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke where the open ground beyond Avdiivka has made assaults more difficult. Kyiv has reportedly drafted in some of its best units to head off the Russian thrust here, including some armed with American-made armored vehicles and tanks.
Dmytro Lykhovyi, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavriisk eastern military grouping, told Ukrainian television on Friday that that the situation in the Avdiivka direction "has stabilized and the advance has actually stopped."
"The Russian military is making small movements in this direction, which are of a local nature," Lykhovyi said. "The most active is the Novopavlivskiy direction, where the Russian military is concentrating its main efforts after the withdrawal of the Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka."
Newsweek cannot independently verify the reports and has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry by email to request comment.
Though Russia's advance has slowed, serious concerns remain about Ukraine's position after more than two years of full-scale war. Commanders in the field and leaders in Kyiv have repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops lack the necessary weapons and munitions to stop and reverse Russia's grinding gains.
Both Europe and the U.S. have failed to maintain a sufficient tempo of military assistance. European Union nations last month agreed a major new $55 billion aid package for Kyiv, but have been unable to supply the 1 million artillery shells promised last year.
More recently, the Czech Republic has said it will raise enough funds for 800,000 shells to be purchased for use in Ukraine. The deal has not yet been agreed.
In the U.S., meanwhile, partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. is proving the most troubling recent development for Ukraine's war effort. House Republicans are still blocking—with the support of former President Donald Trump—the proposed $95 billion aid bill intended to support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka outgunned by the attacking Russians, citing the stranded U.S. aid package as a key factor.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in February: "Keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficits of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war.
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