<span style="color: #222222;">In the ongoing Russia -Ukraine conflict, Russian forces have unleashed a major offensive on Avdiivka, with 610 artillery shellings reported near the eastern Ukrainian town over the past day, according to the Ukrainian military.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' A Ukrainian military spokesperson, Oleksandr Stupun, said that the fierce battle continues with Ukrainian forces firmly holding on defences. Avdiivka is a key Ukrainian strongpoint northwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in the eastern Donbas region.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> <br />'' Russia launched a renewed bid to capture the town more than two months ago and Moscow's forces have been inching forward on the flanks to try to cut supply lines, as per media reports.<br />'' Only about 1,500 people are left out of Avdiivka's pre-conflict population of 32,000.</span><br />