All three of the targeted cities are close to Avdiivka, a city where a fierce battle has taken place in recent months.

Source: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/morenews/worldnews/2023/11/30/russian-missile-strikes-in-ukraine-bury-families-in-rubble/

A local resident rides a bike in Avdiivka, the site of the heaviest battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

Source: https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/us/chernobyl-anniversary-rouses-specter-of-ukraine-nuke-threat/article_8d538d69-a52e-5e00-a40b-8130920f3020.html

Avdiivka, a smaller town 55 miles south of Bakhmut, is being described as ‘post-apocalyptic’

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-counteroffensive-nato-nuclear-b2308738.html

Avdiivka has been a front line city since 2014, when Moscow-backed separatists seized a large portion of the Donbas region.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/2023/10/28/claims-russia-executives-own-soldiers-and-offensive-intensifies-heres-what-to-know-about-the-latest-in-ukraine/

Col. Martin Vendla, deputy commander of the EDF Headquarters, said that Russian forces have taken the initiative in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts in Ukraine, and it is not out of the question they will take Avdiivka.

Source: https://news.err.ee/1609161424/edf-colonel-russian-troops-have-the-initiative-in-luhansk-and-donetsk-oblasts

Despite heavy 24-hour shelling, nearly 1,300 residents remain in Avdiivka, according to the National Police in Donetsk region.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/2023/11/27/you-have-to-accept-that-you-can-be-killed-but-it-is-always-scary-the-story-of-one-bloody-battle-in-a-trench-in-eastern-ukraine/

Fierce clashes occurred in other eastern cities and towns including Mariinka and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, according to a Ukrainian General Staff report, which said Russians conducted four missile strikes and 45 air strikes Sunday.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1772510/zelensky-says-bakhmut-not-occupied-by-russia

Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, who leads Ukrainian troops fighting in and near Avdiivka, said that the attacking Russian forces were ramping up airstrikes, particularly those using guided bombs.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2023/11/12/ukraine-war-russian-missile-shot-down-near-kyiv-following-peaceful-period-in-ukrainian-cap

He said on YouTube that Russia's attacks on Bakhmut were decreasing, and it was shifting its efforts south to the town of Avdiivka.

Source: https://gazette.com/news/us-world/ukraine-prepares-counteroffensive-as-russias-assault-on-bakhmut-flags/article_3537cee6-e6fb-5748-84cd-a7c19088f35d.html

His comments came on Sunday as a military spokesperson said Russian attacks on the shattered eastern town of Avdiivka had eased in the past day, but were likely to intensify.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/12/zelenskiy-warns-ukrainians-to-prepare-for-russian-attacks-on-infrastructure

In a statement, it said that intense fighting was concentrated near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Avdiivka in the Dontesk region, and on the left bank of the Dnipro River.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/20/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-635?traffic_source=rss

It’s not for no reason the Russian assault on Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, seems to be stalling out.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/12/13/ukraine-has-figured-out-a-new-way-of-winning-battles-start-by-grounding-russias-drones/

One person died, and two people were injured in Avdiivka was hit by two artillery shells and a rocket attack, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1748848/ukraine-live-war-russia-putin-zelensky-cruise-missile-attack-crimea

Russian efforts to capture Avdiivka began over a year ago, but the attempt to take the areas near Donetsk, the Russian-held regional capital, has recently intensified.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/briefing/russia-bakhmut-avdiivka-europe.html

Russian forces on Tuesday made no headway in attempts to advance on Avdiivka, the second focal point of Russian attacks in Donetsk region, Kyiv’s military general staff said.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1723875/russia-presses-ahead-with-donetsk-campaign-ukraine-wants-fighter-jets

"The enemy hit the cities of Avdiivka, Toretsk, Liman, Kostiantynivka, Velyka Novoselka, Severnoye, Netailove, Ternii, Vremivka," the Donetsk Region Police Communications Department reports.

Source: https://www.fark.com/comments/12712054?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=comments&utm_campaign=fark

Yet on the outskirts we had passed a sign declaring 'Avdiivka is Ukraine'.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11842181/IAN-BIRRELL-returns-Avdiivka-no-building-left-undamaged-2-500-brave-civilians.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490