Russia intensifies pressure on eastern town, alleges poisoning of spy chief's wife: Update on Ukraine conflict

Avdiivka, a town in eastern Ukraine, has become a major focal point in the ongoing conflict, with intense fighting persisting despite minimal movements in the front lines. Russia has reportedly made strategic gains on the outskirts of the embattled town, while Ukraine claims to be inflicting heavy casualties on the assaulting troops.

As the temperature drops and both factions continue to seek a breakthrough, the president of Ukraine has declared plans to bolster the country's defenses. Here's the latest update on the events of the past week in Ukraine.

Zelensky bolsters front line defenses

Ukraine is stepping up efforts to bolster defenses and fortifications across the country.

President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled a nationwide initiative on Thursday aimed at bolstering defensive positions, with a particular focus on the primary areas of Avdiivka-Mariinka in eastern Donetsk and the defensive line near Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region where heavy fighting is occurring on the front lines.

Ukraine is planning to strengthen defensive fortifications along its northern border with Belarus and Russia. Additionally, Ukrainian troops will work to bolster positions in the southern Kherson region as they continue their efforts to expand their presence in the Russian-occupied area along the Dnipro River.

Analysts caution that constructing fortifications in areas with ongoing shelling and harsh winter conditions may present a challenge.

Zelensky's announcement comes as the war enters a phase dubbed by Ukraine's top military chief as a "positional war," signifying a maturing stage of the conflict where neither side can achieve force overmatch or significant breakthrough, resulting in more static and solidified frontlines.

Russian defensive positions effectively prevented Ukraine's summer counteroffensive from making any progress, demonstrating the effectiveness of fortified lines. As both sides entrench themselves, seizing significant territory with minimal losses becomes increasingly challenging, with manpower and equipment depth playing a crucial role.

It gets worse and worse: The fight for Avdiivka

Efforts by Russian forces to completely surround the town of Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine persist, with the harsh winter weather reportedly creating challenges for both Ukrainian and Russian military movements.

Pro-Russian bloggers have claimed tactical progress in the industrial zone in the southeast and the rail lines in the northwest of the town. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military asserts that they are maintaining defensive positions.

With air superiority, Russia has deployed guided aerial bombs, using retrofitted Soviet-era munitions with high explosive loads that are released outside the range of air defenses. This tactic is particularly effective due to high velocity winds and snow, which limit the use of drones.

A local official stated that Russia has been attempting to gain control of the industrial zone in Avdiivka, but has not been successful. Ukraine claims that their defensive actions in and around the town have resulted in heavy losses for Russian troops and equipment.

Ukrainian police are assisting with the evacuation of locals. Approximately 1,300 civilians are still in Avdiivka, which has been a frontline town since 2014.

An elderly couple evacuated from Avdiivka this week described their decision to leave, citing worsening conditions and lack of sleep due to constant shelling. They had hoped things would improve but ultimately ran out of patience. "At least now, we can get some sleep," the woman said.

In addition, essential workers, including two doctors and four nurses, are providing services for the remaining civilians in the city, according to Vitalii Barabash, the head of the local military administration. If necessary, they are prepared to leave within an hour.

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Ukrainian commander captures video of intense warfare with Russia

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Ukraine claims it sabotaged Russian train

A fire broke out on a train in eastern Russia as it traveled through a vital rail tunnel on Thursday. According to a Ukrainian defense source, the fire and resulting destruction were allegedly caused by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). If proven true, this would mark yet another instance of Ukraine carrying out operations deep inside Russian territory.

According to a source familiar with SBU operations, four explosive devices were set off while the freight train was moving. The incident occurred in the Bessolov Severomuyskiy tunnel in Buryatia, a region in eastern Siberia bordering Mongolia, along the Baikal-Amur railway. The source described the explosion as another successful special operation by the SBU.

The SBU has not issued an official statement regarding the incident, but unofficial Russian media sources have reported that investigators are exploring the potential of "sabotage." Russia has refrained from labeling this as an attack or accusing Ukraine, instead referring to it as "a cargo train fire."

Ukrainian analysts emphasized the significance of the route for Russian deliveries from North Korea and China.

The Russian Railway confirmed that train traffic has been redirected to a detour. According to the statement, the traffic has not been disrupted and is flowing smoothly, albeit with a slightly longer travel time.

At the final operational checkpoint on the Finnish border with Russia, the green warning light switched to red this week, highlighting the increasing international isolation of Moscow.

Finnish television has declared the closure of the entire eastern border of Finland. This crossing was one of the few entry points for Russians after many Western countries closed their airspace and borders to Russian planes in response to the Ukraine invasion.

The border, spanning 1,340 kilometers (833 miles), will be shut down for a minimum of two weeks. Finland made this choice as an increasing number of third country nationals were coming from Russia. Helsinki pointed fingers at Russia for using refugees and asylum seekers as weapons and labeled the arrivals as a "Russian hybrid operation."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has accused Russia of using migration as a "tool" to exert "pressure" along its border with Finland. Stoltenberg stated that Russia has previously used energy, cyber attacks, and clandestine operations to undermine democracies and that the use of migration is another attempt to put pressure on neighboring countries. In response, Russia deemed Finland's decision to close all border checkpoints as "irrational."

Ukrainian spy chiefs wife hospitalized after apparent poisoning

Marianna Budanova, who is the wife of the chief of Ukraine's defense intelligence (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, has been hospitalized with suspected heavy metals poisoning, as reported by the GUR. This has raised concerns about Russia's ability to potentially target high-ranking Ukrainian officials.

American and Western intelligence officials, while not independently verifying the poisoning, believe that Ukrainian reports are accurate, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. The severity of Budanovas' condition was not immediately obvious.

Andriy Yusov, a representative for the GUR who spoke to CNN, stated that she had been hospitalized for a week and had been feeling unwell for some time before that. Tests conducted on Tuesday revealed heavy metal presence. Currently, an investigation is ongoing.

During talks between Ukraine and Russia in March 2022 in Turkey, negotiators experienced minor skin peeling and sore eyes, according to a source close to the Ukrainian negotiation team who spoke to CNN at the time. Initial reports suggested poisoning, but later reports indicated that they fell ill due to an environmental factor.

Russia  and the Soviet Union before that  has been known to carry out extra-territorial poisonings against its enemies.