Ukraine: kyiv announces partial withdrawal of its troops from Avdiïvka
In Ukraine, while Russia continues its repeated assaults on Avdiivka, this strategic town located approximately 10km from the occupied city of Donetsk, kyiv announces a partial withdrawal of its troops and the sending of reinforcements to other points of tension in the city.
A Ukrainian soldier defends a military position in Avdiivka (illustrative image) AP - Libkos
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This is an announcement that responds to the immense concern that reigns among the Ukrainian population regarding the fate of the soldiers present in Avdiivka. On Friday, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, the Ukrainian general in command of operations in the east of the country, confirmed a withdrawal of his troops from the south of Avdiivka, where the situation had become untenable according to the rare accounts that soldiers and medical personnel were able to to get out of this city, which has become the scene of intense fighting in recent weeks.
“
The decision to withdraw was made to save personnel and improve the operational situation
,” General Tarnavsky wrote on Telegram. The withdrawal from this fortified position took place "
with minor losses
", he added, while ensuring that the army continued to "
hold the city
" and that the sending of reinforcements and additional ammunition to the Ukrainian troops on site continued.
Captured soldiers
The officer, however, acknowledged that “
several soldiers
” had been “
captured
” by Russian forces, who are “
surplus in terms of manpower, artillery and aviation
”. “
The enemy is launching all its reserves into the assault, moving them from other directions and trying to break through our defenses
,” he said, adding that the evacuation of the wounded was complicated by the “
continuous bombardments
".
General Tarnavsky also claims that reinforcements have been sent to other sectors of the city, reports
our correspondence in Kiev
,
Emmanuelle Chaze
. While the Ukrainian army is almost surrounded by Russian troops, and disadvantaged both in number of soldiers and equipment, kyiv announces that the situation is difficult but under control.
A Russian victory over Avdiivka would be above all symbolic for Moscow a few weeks before the presidential election and the first significant capture since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023. But as in Bakhmut, only ruins remain of Avdiivka, while almost 900 inhabitants are still caught in the crossfire and the cost of these battles in human lives is once again immense.
Also read: Ukraine: Ukrainian troops in the grip of Avdiïvka
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