Ukraine: Russian troops make 'creeping gains' in Donbas

Russian forces have made "creeping gains" around a Ukrainian-held town in the Donbas region, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said.

In the latest defence update on Twitter, the MOD said the Russian operation in the town of Avdiivka, immediately north of Donetsk city, has been "largely" carried out by "the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People's Republic".

This is made up of "local personnel who will know the terrain well", the MOD added.

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"Avdiivka has been on the frontline of the Donbas conflict since 2014; the city is now largely destroyed," the MOD tweeted.

"The sprawling Avdiivka Coke Plant complex is likely to be seen as particularly defendable key terrain as the battle progresses."

The MOD said the situation is tactically similar to Bakhmut.

"Ukrainian forces continue organised defence, but their supply lines to the west are increasingly threatened by the Russian envelopment operation," the MOD tweeted.

It comes after the MOD said Russia was looking to make changes to its military conscription.

In a previous defence update, they said Russian parliamentarians want to introduce "a bill to change the age bracket for conscription to men aged 21 to 30 years, from the current 18 to 27".

"The law is likely to be passed and would come into force in January 2024," the update said.