Day 610 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Russia continues to Sacrifice Soldiers in the Counteroffensive near Avdiivka

Day 610 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

• Russia continues to sacrifice soldiers in the counteroffensive near Avdiivka
• The International Atomic Energy Agency made a statement after the Russian strike near the Ukrainian nuclear power plant
• With the new Black Sea Corridor, Ukraine expects to compensate for lost grain exports
• NATO: Russia must leave Moldova
• Slovakia freezes the delivery of weapons for Ukraine
• Russia says it will build close ties with North Korea 'in all spheres'
• Ukrainian pilots have begun training to fly F-16 fighter jets in the US

Russia continues to sacrifice soldiers in the counteroffensive near Avdiivka

Russian forces are ignoring their heavy losses at the front and are continuing their offensive to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, Ukrainian representatives announced today, quoted by Reuters and BTA.

Over the past two weeks, Russia has concentrated on the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, a city known in peacetime for its large coal plant but now considered a bastion of Ukrainian resistance.

"The enemy is trying to move forward, and we are pushing them back," Oleksandr Stupun, a spokesman for Ukraine's southern forces, said on national television. "So in no case can we talk about any fixed situation. Heavy fighting continues, although the activity has somewhat decreased. The enemy is going through some kind of regrouping," he specified.

Russian forces rely on infantry, using small assault groups of 30-40 men, Stupun said, noting...