The Ukrainian military leadership apparently does not want to give up the city. The new Ukrainian commander-in-chief, Olexandr Syrskyj, expressed optimism about their return. “Taking into account the operational situation around Avdiivka,” he “decided to withdraw Ukrainian units from the city and go to defense on more favorable lines in order to avoid encirclement and protect the lives and health of soldiers.”
Russian troops have been trying to conquer Avdiivka since October 2023, with heavy losses. Since 2014, the former industrial city has been a Ukrainian outpost on the outskirts of Donetsk, the Russian-controlled capital of the Donbass coal and steel district.
Portal/Alexander Ermochenko Avdiivka has been hotly contested since October
Remembering Bakhmut
The city's conquest by Russian troops would not be strategically important, but could be exploited for propaganda purposes by the Kremlin ahead of Russian presidential elections in March, experts at the US Institute for War Studies (ISW) wrote. Most recently, Ukraine had to give up the city of Bakhmut, which had also been fought over for months, in the spring of 2023. The fall of Avdiivka was the biggest setback for Ukraine since then.
“The only right decision”
“In a situation where the enemy advances under constant bombardment over the corpses of its own soldiers and has a ten to one advantage, this is the only correct decision,” said Tarnavskyi, responsible for this sector of the front. on Telegram. The siege was avoided, personnel were withdrawn, and soldiers took up defense on designated lines.
Ukraine gives up on Avdiivka
The Ukrainian army says it has withdrawn from the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, which has been under dispute for months. The Ukrainian withdrawal is Russia's biggest symbolic victory since the failure of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the summer.
In recent days, the situation for the Ukrainian defenders in the city has become increasingly difficult. They responded in “inhumane conditions,” the press service of the 110th brigade of the Ukrainian army stationed in Avdiivka wrote on Facebook on Friday. “Today the enemy is throwing enormous forces in the form of personnel, armored vehicles and aircraft towards Avdiivka.”
ISW: Russia has advanced on several sides
Russian troops advanced from several sides, ISW experts analyzed in their daily report on Thursday. Photos showed that Russian troops are advancing from the north towards the large Avdiivka coke plant. In the south of the city, an important Ukrainian fortified defense structure was captured. “Russian troops may complete the encirclement of some Ukrainian forces if Ukrainian troops do not withdraw or carry out successful counterattacks,” observers concluded.
The Ukrainian side had already reported on Thursday that its troops were withdrawing from some advanced positions. Tarnawskyj spoke about reinforcements being brought into threatened areas. But he also said that new positions are being prepared. “We value every piece of Ukrainian land, but the greatest value and priority for us is saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers,” the general wrote on Telegram.
Zelenskyy at the security conference
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected at the 60th Munich Security Conference on Saturday. In Munich, Zelenskyy wants to meet, among others, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US Vice President Kamala Harris behind closed doors. The conference is overshadowed by reports of the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison.