Russian Forces Close to Capturing Strategic Ukrainian Town of Avdiivka

As Ukraine's counteroffensive struggles, the nation's military shifts focus to defense amid freezing winter conditions.

Russian forces are close to capturing Avdiivka, a southeastern town in Ukraine of immense strategic and symbolic importance.
Ukraine's counteroffensive to regain areas lost to Russia last year has not yielded tangible results due to lack of air support and medium-range missiles.
Russia has deployed hundreds of thousands of newly mobilized servicemen to man the defense lines and plant landmines.
Ukraine's military will have to focus on defense in the freezing winter months as they re-evaluate next year's offense strategy with Western allies.
Ukrainian intelligence has made inroads deep within enemy territory, with successful operations far from the front lines.