Ukraine withdraws troops from Avdievka, Russia scores symbolic victory

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the frontline city of Avdievka to avoid a siege, new military chief Alexander Silsky said on Saturday, marking Russia’s biggest symbolic victory since a failed summer counteroffensive in Kiev.

Russia has been trying to seize Avdievka for months. It is the most significant territorial gain made by Russian forces since seizing the eastern city of Bahmut last May and comes ahead of the second anniversary of the start of the invasion.

“I have decided to withdraw our troops from the city and instead defend on more favorable lines,” Silski said on Facebook.

“Our soldiers performed their military duties with dignity, doing everything possible to destroy Russia’s best military units and inflict heavy losses on the enemy.”

It was Silski’s first major decision since taking office on February 8, and he said it was to protect the lives of soldiers and prevent them from being surrounded.

Ukraine faces growing pressure on the eastern front due to ammunition shortages, and a $60 billion U.S. military aid package has been stalled in Washington since last year amid congressional wrangling.

General Alexander Tarnavsky, who commanded the Avdiivka area, said of the withdrawal: “This was the only way to go under constant bombardment when the enemy had a ten to one advantage in shelling over the bodies of our own soldiers.” Rights determine.”

“The encirclement was blocked, personnel were evacuated and our soldiers defended on designated lines,” he posted on Telegram.

Tarnavsky said on Friday before issuing an order to evacuate Avdiivka that several Ukrainian soldiers had been captured by Russian forces.

The battle for the industrial center, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, was one of the bloodiest battles of the two-year war.

Many compare it to the Battle of Bahmut, in which tens of thousands of soldiers died.

security treaty

Before the Russian invasion, Avdievka had approximately 34,000 residents. According to local authorities, much of the city has been destroyed, but about 1,000 residents still survived.

The city has important symbolic value and Moscow hopes that capturing it will make it more difficult for Ukraine to bomb Donetsk.

Avdiivka is located in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which the Kremlin has claimed as part of Russia since annexing the region in 2022 but which is still not recognized by nearly all United Nations member states.

It briefly fell into the hands of pro-Russian separatists led by Moscow in July 2014 before returning to Ukrainian control, which continues to control it despite the invasion and its proximity to the separatist capital Donetsk. area.

After the failure of the Kiev counteroffensive in the summer, the Russian army continued its offensive, facing a Ukrainian army that was struggling to replenish its troops and was low on ammunition.

Russian authorities said they foiled multiple Ukrainian drone attacks overnight.

In the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a telegram that two drones were shot down, while Vladimir Putin, the governor of the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow, Vladislav Shapsha said four drones were shot down. Based on initial assessment, they said there were no casualties or property damage.

Avdievka’s fall comes as President Zelensky is visiting Europe to secure much-needed military aid.

Zelensky signed bilateral security agreements with France and Germany on Friday to lock in support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

Both agreements include military assistance and security arrangements.

With the war in Ukraine about to enter its third year, Zelensky will make further requests for funding and armaments at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, which is also attended by leaders including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

A research group that monitors aid estimated on Friday that the European Union will have to double its military support for Ukraine to fill the gap left by the United States.

“There is considerable uncertainty about whether the United States will provide further military assistance in 2024,” the Germany-based Kiel Institute said in a report.

According to the latest data from the institute, the United States provided 42.2 billion euros ($45.4 billion) in military aid to Ukraine between February 2022 and December 2023, or about 2 billion euros per month.

Since the outbreak of the war, the EU and its 27 member states have pledged 49.7 billion euros in military aid, but only 35.2 billion euros have been delivered or earmarked so far.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – AFP)