 Avdivka fully encircled by Russia's 40,000 troops. Russian forces are encircling Avdivka, a new war map shows as Moscow is said to have accumulated around 40,000 troops for a fresh assault on the eastern Donetsk town according to Newsweek. The Institute for the Study of War, a US based think tank published a new map showing Russian advances around Avdivka. Russian forces launched a major offensive on the frontline town in October. Avdivka has been the target of Moscow's forces aggression since 2014 when Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed the Southern Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. Beginning on October 10, Russia has poured in thousands of troops as well as tanks and armored vehicles in an attempt to seize the town which has been described as the gateway to the city of Donetsk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the situation around Avdivka as particularly tough. Anton Kotsukon, spokesperson for the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said that Russia is building up reserves for a fresh push to seize Avdivka. They've brought in about 40,000 men here along with ammunition. Kotsukon added, we see no sign of the Russians abandoning plans to encircle Avdivka. Kotsukon said Russian troops have surrounded Avdivka on three sides and were playing cat and mouse and sending up huge numbers of drones to analyze Kiev's defenses.