Russians ease attacks in eastern Ukraine, shattered town may still be held by Kyiv

FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the remains of Maryinka city that was destroyed by the Russians, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Maryinka, Donetsk Region, Ukraine May 12, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Andriy Yermak via Telegram/via REUTERS.

(Reuters) - Russian forces eased attacks on the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka on Saturday and unofficial reports from the region suggested they had failed to capture the devastated town of Maryinka to the southwest.

Russia's military has focused on eastern Ukraine since abandoning an advance on Kyiv in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. Since mid-October, the military has set its sights on seizing Avdiivka and its vast coking plant.