>> Avdiivka is a tiny pointless place "Both sides regard Avdiivka as key to Russia's aim of securing full control of the two eastern "Donbas" provinces - Donet

>> Avdiivka is a tiny pointless place "Both sides regard Avdiivka as key to Russia's aim of securing full control of the two eastern "Donbas" provinces - Donetsk and Luhansk. These are among the four Ukrainian regions Russia says it has annexed but does not have full control of. Avdiivka is seen as a gateway to Donetsk city, whose residential areas Russian officials say have been shelled by Ukrainian forces, sometimes from Avdiivka." -- Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/why-does-russia-want-capture-ukraines-avdiivka-2024-02-06/ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/why-does-russia-want-ca... I don't understand your point about optics. Why does Russia care about optics in this case? Ukraine has to care about optics because they are completely dependent on NATO aid for their survival at this point.