Escalating Conflict: Russian Strikes and Nonstop Assaults Worsen Situation in Ukraine

Russia's military continues to launch fierce assaults on the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, with shelling so intense that emergency crews are unable to recover the dead from destroyed buildings. This marks the fifth consecutive day of attacks on the town, which is located in Ukraine's industrial heartland. The violence has also escalated in other sectors of the front, with clashes further north worsening in recent days. Avdiivka's top administrative official reported that the town experienced a brief respite from air strikes overnight, but attacks resumed at daybreak. Rescue operations have been halted due to the dangerous conditions, leaving residents trapped under rubble. The Russian objective appears to be the defeat of Ukrainian troops and the encirclement of Kupiansk.