Pushilin reported on a “considerable number” of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who surrendered in Avdeevka. If necessary, the Ministry of Defense will publish more accurate information, Pushilin noted.
On February 17, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin about the capture of Avdeesk. According to the Russian Ministry of defense, the Ukrainian Armed forces lost more than 1.5 thousand military personnel in the battles for Avdiesk per day.