China News Service, February 19 (Xinhua) According to comprehensive Russian media reports, on the 18th local time, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video of the Ukrainian armed forces escaping from Avdeyevka.
Image source: Screenshot of "Russia Today" (RT) report
According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense said, "Groups of Ukrainian soldiers fled before the Ukrainian commander-in-chief Serski gave the order. Russian artillery accurately struck the fleeing Ukrainian troops and equipment."
The Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that under the continued firepower of the Russian army, individual defeated Ukrainian troops were able to leave Avdeyevka, and Ukrainian weapons and military equipment were scattered everywhere on the road.
According to a report by "Russia Today" (RT), according to the drone aerial video released by Russian officials, a large number of Ukrainian soldiers tried to escape on foot, leaving behind heavy equipment to increase their chances of survival.
According to reports, the video showed that the retreating troops were subjected to shelling and air strikes, and many Ukrainian military vehicles were destroyed or damaged. The Ukrainian troops who tried to escape in combat vehicles also became the target of Russian attacks. In addition, a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle was hit by a suicide drone.
As previously reported, on February 17, local time, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian army had completely taken control of Avdeyevka, an important town in the Donetsk region, and had pushed the Russian front line significantly westward. International public opinion believes that the Russian army’s occupation of Avdeyevka is as important as the Battle of Bakhmut (called Artemovsk in Russia) in May 2023.
At present, Ukraine has not responded to relevant news.