Russian troops are trying to capture Stepove in the Avdiivka direction to cut off the logistics of the Defense Forces, which is now under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Russians have not entered the Avdiivka Coke Plant and continue to storm its direction. This was reported by Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, during a telethon.

"It is clear why they are doing this, why Stepove is so important to them. They want to cut the logistics. This is the closest direction to cut off our only way. Very fierce fighting continues in Stepove. To say that they control it would be a complete lie. Just yesterday and the day before yesterday, there were very serious stabilization actions on our part. Now there is no enemy in Stepove. Stepove is now fully controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," he said.

According to him, despite the weather, the enemy is trying to conduct its assault actions towards Avdiivka Coke Plant "almost around the clock" with a different number of groups that differ in their composition.

Barabash noted that the Russians have never managed to enter Avdiivka Coke Plant.

"Sometimes they actually reach the fence of Avdiivka Coke Plant. But they also write very often, 'we have entered the coke plant', 'we have two days, three days left - the coke plant will be completely ours'. This is not true. They have never entered the coke plant," said the head of CMA.