Zelensky calls for strengthening positions in key front areas

(Patria) - President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for faster construction of fortifications in key sectors under pressure from Russian forces, especially in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.

He made an appeal after visiting Ukrainian positions in the northeast, one of several areas where Russian forces have recently attempted to make advances and regain territory liberated by Ukrainian troops a year ago.

He said one of the meetings with commanders addressed fortifications.

"In all major sectors where reinforcement is needed, the construction of facilities should be intensified and accelerated," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

"This, of course, means the greatest attention to the Avdiivka, Marinka sectors, and other sectors in the Donetsk region. In the Kharkiv region, this means the Kupiansk sector and the Kupiansk-Lyman line," he added.

Russian forces have focused their attention since mid-October on the devastated city of Avdiivka, known for its huge coke plant and its position as a gateway to the regional capital of Donetsk, which is under Russian control, 20 km to the east.

Army spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun said Ukrainian forces had repelled Russian attacks on the coke plant.

"The plant is under our control. The enemy is suffering significant losses there," he said.

Russian forces have also been exerting pressure near disputed villages surrounding the equally devastated city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces captured in May after months of fighting.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday the capture of Kromyove, one such village, but unofficial Ukrainian reports dispute this claim.

Ukrainian military analyst Serhiy Hrabskyi said the Russians were seeking to leverage their
capture of Bakhmut to advance towards at least three cities to the west.

"It is crucial for the enemy to develop things tactically with the aim of eventually advancing on Kostiantynivka, as well as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk," Hrabskyi said.