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Both sides are exerting pressure on the front lines in different places. The Russians are pressing hard around Aavdivka and Ukraine has found that the Russians have not left enough troops in southern Kherson to defend well against river crossings. The Ukrainian longer range artillery and drone strikes are also causing the Russians logistics problems and problems assembling men and materiel for assaults on Ukrainian positions around both Aavdivka and Kherson. For example, their are no longer any safe bases for Russian attack helicopters in Donetsk. Better use of artillery and drones also make Aavdivka easier to defend without the losses suffered by Ukraine around Bakhmut.

Some pro-Russian commentators here seem to think that capturing Aavdivka will prove decisive, but I doubt that would be the case even if they can capture it. The Ukrainians know just as well as the Russians how to build new defensive fortifications with minefields behind Aavdivka and the losses suffered attacking Aavdivka will leave insufficient Russian reserves to press the assault. The Ukrainians have also found a few weak points near Donetsk where the Russians have withdrawn units to assault Aavdivka and are pressing the Russians there. Right now it looks like the Russians have to either divert troops to southern Kherson or risk having Crimea once again cut off from their other occupied territory.