War in Ukraine: Russia claims “total control” of Avdiïvka
A few days before the second anniversary of the start of the invasion, on February 24, Ukraine conceded a victory to Russia, which regained control of Avdiïvka. While the blockage of American aid weighs on the Ukrainian front, the White House establishes a link between this symbolic success and the “
inaction
” of Congress.
Russian soldiers patrol an area of the Azovstal complex in Mariupol, June 13, 2022. (Illustrative image) AP
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It is a symbolic trophy for Russia. The country claimed this Saturday, February 17, the “
Total control
» from Avdiïvka, in eastern Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin of the conquest of this industrial city which was “
a powerful defensive node of the Ukrainian armed forces
», According to a press release from his ministry.
“
The president congratulated our military and fighters on this important victory
,” said presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies. According to the Minister of Defense, Russian forces seized 31.75 km2 in Avdiivka, a town largely destroyed but where the Ukrainian defenders had dug out significant defenses.
If Kiev announced that it had withdrawn its troops from the city, only “
a few scattered formations
” managed to do so, “
under continuous fire from Russian troops
” and by “
abandoning weapons and military equipment
,” said the Russian minister. According to him, Russian troops are now busy "
definitively clearing the city
" of Ukrainian soldiers and "blocking" Ukrainian units who have taken refuge in a factory in Avdiivka. Sergei Shoigu also indicated that the capture of Avdiïvka makes it possible
to “keep
” Ukrainian artillery away from Donetsk, a stronghold of pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine since 2014, regularly bombarded.
Read alsoAfter months of intense fighting, the Ukrainian army withdraws from Avdiïvka
The Ukrainian army announced on the night of Friday to Saturday its withdrawal from Avdiïvka after months of tough fighting and intensification of Russian attacks with a view to seizing this largely ruined city. And this despite very high losses in men and equipment. This was a “
fair decision
” intended to “
save as many lives as possible
,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. “
In order to avoid being surrounded, it was decided to withdraw to other lines
,” he added about the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armies Oleksandr Syrsky, appointed to this post on February 8.
Biden criticizes US Congress
for “
inaction ”
Faced with a growing lack of resources due in particular to the blocking of American military aid, Ukraine could hardly avoid this withdrawal in the face of Russia which was pushing its troops, more numerous and with more ammunition, to achieve success on the battlefield a few days before the second anniversary of the start of the invasion, February 24.
In a telephone conversation this Saturday, February 17 with his Ukrainian counterpart, American President Joe Biden criticized in this regard the American "
inaction of Congress
", while reiterating to Volodymyr Zelensky "
the commitment of the United States to continue to support Ukraine
,” according to a press release issued in Washington. “
This morning, the Ukrainian military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration their ammunition due to dwindling supplies, a result of Congressional inaction, giving rise to the Russia's first notable (territorial) gains in months
,” lamented the American president.
Also read Avdiïvka: a “strategic setback” for Ukraine, a “symbolic victory” for Russia
Ukraine has been hoping for months for the vote on crucial aid of $60 billion wanted by the government of Democrat Joe Biden, campaigning for a second term, but obstructed in Congress by the Republican opposition, under the influence of Donald Trump . “
I am happy to be able to count on the full support of the American president. We also believe in the wise decision of the American Congress
,” the Ukrainian head of state commented on Telegram in the evening.
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