The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), noting the redeployment of Ukrainian military units from Avdiyivka, predicts that the main task of Russian occupation forces in this direction will be to maximally “complicate or prevent a complete” and organized withdrawal of Ukrainian forces.

"Ukrainian forces have begun withdrawing from Avdiyivka, and Russian forces appear focused on complicating or preventing a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops," ISW said in a report published on its official website on Saturday morning.

As the institute's experts note, the morning statement by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky about the withdrawal“ came after several confirmed Russian offensives on the outskirts of the city over the past 24 hours.

ISW said Ukrainian Armed Forces units are being redeployed to the area for reinforcements "to stabilize the situation and further weaken the attacking Russian forces. It is common practice to bring in reinforcements as receiving forces, which can allow withdrawing units to recover behind prepared defensive positions." ISW refutes Russian mill bloggers who report an allegedly “massive and chaotic” withdrawal of Ukrainian forces.

According to ISW, Russian forces will likely have difficulty advancing west of Avdiyivka toward secondary prepared positions to which Ukrainian troops are withdrawing and will likely suffer significant casualties if they decide to attack these Ukrainian positions head-on.