Russia took full control of Avdiivka, Ukraine lost 1,500 troops in 24 hours 0
(Dan Tri) – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces have `complete control` of the city of Avdiivka in Eastern Ukraine after months of fierce fighting.
Ukrainian soldiers opened fire towards Russia in Avdiivka (Photo: Reuters).
`Under constant fire from the Russian army, scattered units of Ukrainian forces managed to escape the city,` the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on February 17.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine lost 1,500 troops in the 24 hours before Russia took complete control of the city of Avdiivka.
`Measures are being taken to push all (Ukrainian) forces out of the city,` the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed, and said Russian forces will soon blockade Ukrainian units that are
Previously, Ukrainian forces announced their withdrawal from Avdiivka in the early morning of February 17 after months of intense Russian attacks here.
Avdiivka belongs to Donetsk, considered the gateway to the Donbass region, Eastern Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that after taking control of Avdiivka, Russian forces will continue to attack in order to `continue to further control the (self-proclaimed) Donetsk People’s Republic from Ukrainian nationalists`.
`(Russia’s) control of Avdiivka helps push the front line away from the Donetsk area, thereby significantly protecting this area from Kiev’s attacks,` the Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized.
Location of Avdiivka city (Photo: FT).
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, announced that the order of Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky to withdraw from Avdiivka was given just 24 hours after the Ukrainian army began to retreat uncontrollably from the city.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that after hearing Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s report on Russia gaining control of Avdiivka, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the army on this important victory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Western countries for allowing Russia to `gain the upper hand` in Avdiivka.
President Zelensky also admitted that the Ukrainian armed forces were forced to withdraw from Avdiivka to avoid being surrounded.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Kiev had learned a number of lessons from the loss of Avdiivka, specifically the importance of air defense systems, long-range weapons, artillery shells and fortifications.
`Modern air defense systems are needed so that the enemy cannot use guided bombs. Long-range weapons are needed to destroy enemy formations. Artillery shells are needed,` Mr. Umerov said.
According to Mr. Umerov, the decision to withdraw from Avdiivka to preserve the lives of the soldiers was correct.
`We have built and strengthened fortifications. The decision to protect human lives is correct. We will return to Avdiivka,` Ukraine’s Defense Minister declared.
Mr. Umerov’s statement is similar to the previous statement of the new Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky.
`The decision was made to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines… The lives of soldiers have the highest value,` General Syrsky emphasized.
