A Ukrainian soldier on the frontline near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine (Oleg Palchyk)

Thursday’s Coverage: Zelenskiy With NATO In Brussels

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1539 GMT:

The head of the military administration in Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine says the town was under constant attack from Russian airstrikes, artillery, and ground assaults by large numbers of troops.

Vitaliy Barabash said:

The battles have been going on for four days now. Fierce and really non-stop … They are firing from everything they have available.

It was a very hot night in Avdiivka. There were several airstrikes on the city itself … the attacks do not stop day or night.

He said one civilian had been killed and several wounded in the past day.

A Ukrainian officer, Serhiy Tsekhovky, told the BBC:

They launched their offensive on a wide front.

Since the beginning of the invasion, we haven’t dealt with such an intensive attack. They are using multiple rocket launchers, artillery, tanks and infantry – all at the same time.

UPDATE 0819 GMT:

Two civilians have been killed and six wounded, including a child, in the latest Russian attacks on the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

Russia carried out 100 attacks, including 49 on Kherson city, with artillery, tanks, mortars, Grad rockets, and drones in 24 hours, said Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Educational facilities, houses, apartment blocks, a medical institution, and an industrial platform were destroyed.

UPDATE 0656 GMT:

Estonia’s Government has approved a draft law that, subject to approval by Parliament, will allow frozen Russian assets to be transferred to Ukraine.

“Russia must compensate Ukraine for all the war damages caused,” Prime Minister Kara Kallas said. She explained that Estonia “must be an example and an encouragement” to others in establishing similar regulations.

UPDATE 0553 GMT:

Russia’s Orthodox Church has appointed bishop Metropolitan Tikhin, reputed to be Vladimir Putin’s spiritual advisor, to head the Diocese of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Tikhon has led the Diocese of Pskov and Porkhov since 2018.

The bishop’s links to Putin date from the late 1990s, when the future leader met the cleric at a Moscow monastery frequented by agents of the State security service FSB.

He was filmed in March 2023 accompanying Putin during the leader’s surprise visit to Crimea.

Russian proxy “governor” Sergei Aksyonov praised Tikhim as “one of the most famous and influential” bishops.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukrainian forces are holding out against an intense Russian assault on Avdiivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

While Kyiv’s troops have been gradually advancing in their counter-offensive near Bakhmut, Russia has been trying to regain momentum by overrunning Avdiivka, about 90 km (55 miles) to the south.

The town is just over 20 km (12.5 miles) from Donetsk city, the center of Russia’s occupation of the region.

The Russians have been shelling Avdiivka for months, and they stepped up ground attacks on Tuesday with three battalions — more than 2,000 soldiers – supported by tanks and other armored vehicles, rotary wing aircraft, and concentrated artillery. The force is simultaneously attacking northwest, west, and south of Avdiivka.

Yesterday, Ukraine’s Special Operation Forces Command reported that its troops had destroyed eight units of heavy military equipment and killed “dozens” of Russian soldiers in 24 hours. The Command claimed that it had “thwarted” Russia’s plans, repulsing all attacks and holding positions.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on Thursday:

Map: Institute for the Study of War