Ukraine says eastern town of Avdiivka could become 'second Bakhmut'

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows a car damaged by debris, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Avdiivka, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, March 15, 2023, in this screen grab obtained from a video. Donetsk Region Police/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Monday the eastern town of Avdiivka could soon become a "second Bakhmut", a small city where its forces have held out against Russian invaders for eight months but risk being fully encircled.

The battle for Bakhmut in the industrial Donbas has been one of the fiercest of the nearly 13-month-old war in Ukraine, drawing comparisons with World War One trench warfare.