A police officer walks near a damaged residential building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, October 17, 2023. Russian forces have focused on the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since their drive on Kyiv stalled in the first days of the invasion in February 2022. Oleksandr Borodin, press officer for Ukraine's third separate assault brigade, said Russian forces were launching major infantry attacks, while trying to keep equipment intact. Russian forces, he told Espreso, were unable to replenish supplies quickly and Ukrainian defensive positions were solid. Russia's Defence Ministry reported strikes on Ukrainian troops and equipment near Bakhmut.

---

Persons: Yevhen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksandr Borodin, Borodin, Espreso, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Ukraine's, Staff, Russian, Russia's, Russia's Defence Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Donetsk, Luhansk, Ukrainian, Israel, Bakhmut, Kupiansk, Skadovsk, Russian, Kherson