⚡️ISW: Russia tones down rhetoric about Avdiivka offensive. Facing heavy losses and stalled momentum in their attempt to encircle Avdiivka, Russian forces made no gains on Oct. 15, while the Russian information space changed its tone on the offensive.

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1. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and other Russian military commentators have muted their optimism about operations near Avdiivka, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its Oct. 15 report.
   Facing heavy losses and stalled momentum in their attempt to encircle Avdiivka, Russian forces made no territorial gains on Oct. 15, while the Russian information space changed its tone regarding the offensive.
   Putin characerized the operation as an “active defense” in an interview that aired on Russian state television.
   While he also claimed in the interview that Ukraine’s counteroffensive had failed, his wording points to a shift in Russian rhetoric about the Avdiivka assault. Instead of an “offensive,” the operation has become an “active defense.”
   The ISW pointed out the contrast between Putin’s framing and that of Russia’s Ambassador to the U.N. Vasily Nebenzya, who said Russia was conducting “active combat operations” near Avdiivka on Oct. 13.

2. Pack of losers

3. Surprise, surprise.

4. Soon they’ll announce another gesture of good will.

5. “Oh *that* Avdiivka, no we never wanted that, we were talking about a different Avdiivka all along. Fools!”