Avdiivka. Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city to avoid encirclement

"Today's news is disappointing", reports the Ukrainian Unian agency regarding the occupation of Avdiivka by the Russians. The occupiers seized, among other places, a coking plant and a chemical factory, which were strongholds of the Ukrainian armed forces, as indicated by the Meduza website.

On Saturday around noon, Ukraine reported that some of its soldiers retreating from Avdiivka had been captured by the Russians. The message was delivered by Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Tauryd group, who was responsible for the defense of Avdiivka.

As he wrote on Telegram, this occurred in the final phase of the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, under the pressure of a significantly larger Russian force. Therefore, Ukrainian soldiers moved the front line near the abandoned city. This information is confirmed by the Unian agency.

During the night from Friday to Saturday, Ukraine decided to withdraw its troops from Avdiivka near Donetsk. Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrski, informed that the decision was made to avoid encirclement by the attacking Russian troops. According to the Ukrainian commander, this will allow the front to be stabilized and safer defensive positions to be taken.

The Russians occupied Avdiivka. "They threw all their reserves into the assault".

The Ukrainian media reminds us that since the fall of last year, Avdiivka in the Donetsk Oblast has been the center of attention for the Russians, who "were actively trying to take control of the city."

"The aggressors began to advance, mainly due to the lack of missiles in the Ukrainian Defense Forces. It was reported that the invaders had committed all their reserves to the assault on Avdiivka, especially those deployed in other directions of the front," we read in a dispatch from the Unian agency.

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War in Ukraine. Zelensky on withdrawing from Avdiivka: A logical, professional decision.

On Saturday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the withdrawal of his country's troops from Avdiivka. During the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian leader was asked about the reasons for the withdrawal of Avdiivka's defenders.

As he noted, it was a logical and professional decision by the commanders. "The most important task is to save the lives of our people, our military. This is our defense. Any weapon - we are grateful to all our partners - it only helps restore justice and peace in the territories of Ukraine.

But everyone knows that it is the people and the military who hold it. They are the ones who liberate the lands," said Volodymyr Zelensky. The loss of Avdiivka, located on the northern outskirts of Donetsk, marks the most serious change on the front line since May last year, when the Russians occupied Bakhmut.