Russia takes more ground in east Ukraine but loses another ship at sea
Al Jazeera
Ukraine’s naval drones score another hit in the past week, but its troops continue to fall back in Donetsk.
Russian troops continued a relentless march in eastern Ukraine for a third straight week, giving defenders no respite since seizing Avdiivka on February 17.
Geolocated footage on February 29 showed Russian troops had advanced 5km (3 miles) west of Avdiivka to the outskirts of Orlivka and Berdychi.
The following day, they were in central Orlivka. By Monday, they were spotted close to a road that connects Orlivka to the village of Tonenke to its south.
By the estimate of the Russian Ministry of Defence, it took Moscow’s forces four months to advance 9km (5.6 miles) through the Donetsk region before seizing Avdiivka.
By that standard, 5km in three weeks – including 3km (nearly 2 miles) in the past week alone – was fast progress.