 Russia, preparing to seize Avdeevka chemical plant, Russian troops have crossed the railway line north of Avdeevka and could position their forces for an assault on the local coke and chemical plant, located on the northern edge of the city and then threatened the city itself. The Kiev Post publication said this. According to a Ukrainian military observer Yuri Butosov, Russian troops were seen next to a railway line near Stepov, a village 3 km north of Avdeevka and have continued their assaults on the village. The observer said Russian troops are entrenched behind the railway line and they are in a good position to launch attacks on the chemical plant, which is essentially the northern gate to Avdeevka. There was a real threat of losing the city. The observer stated in his report. Head of Avdeevka City Military Administration Vitaly Barabash said that Russia had intensified its attacks on the northern and southern flank to encircle the city and the chemical plant had become a new target for its troops. Infantry is advancing on the city, both from the south and the north, without yet employing their heavy equipment. The Russians are making concerted efforts to encircle the city, said Barabash. Avdeevka, a Ukrainian stronghold located 22 km north of Donetsk City, has seen some of the heaviest combat in the ongoing war, with Russia aiming to capture the city for a symbolic victory.