. Ukraine is pulling out of the primary stronghold Avdiivka, where a smaller number of defenders managed to resist for 4 months.
The military leader of Ukraine announced on Saturday that they will be removing troops from Avdiivka, a city in eastern Ukraine. The defenders in Avdiivka have been fighting against a Russian attack for the past four months, despite being outnumbered.
the annexation of Crimea
“The timing is crucial as Russia seeks to uplift morale before the second anniversary of the annexation of Crimea on February 24th.”
The complete takeover of Ukraine by Moscow.
The presidential election in Russia, which takes place in March.
On Facebook, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi of Ukraine stated that he made the choice to prevent being surrounded and protect the well-being of his soldiers.
He took another journey to Western Europe with the goal of urging his country’s allies to continue offering military assistance.
This was the first significant examination for Syrskyi after he was chosen as Ukraine’s new military leader last week.
As the former leader of Ukraine’s ground troops, he received backlash for maintaining control of Bakhmut for a period of nine months. This siege was the longest and most brutal battle of the war, resulting in significant losses for Ukraine but also weakening Russia’s military.
Recent reports have indicated that the Ukrainian military in Avdiika has been facing a worsening situation.
On Friday, Rodion Kudriashov, who is the deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, stated that Ukrainian soldiers were still resisting the attack from approximately 15,000 Russian troops. However, he predicted that the situation would soon reach a critical point.
He informed The Associated Press that the opposing force is attempting to break through our defense and in certain areas, maneuver around our positions.
On Friday, the 3rd Brigade announced on their social media platform that their troops were present at the Avdiivka Coke Plant. The brigade reported that Russian planes have been constantly bombing the area, dropping approximately 60 bombs per day, and attacking with both armored vehicles and infantry.
According to a video, thick dark smoke was seen above the factory due to burning fuel oil reservoirs. The post stated that a toxic haze had spread throughout the entire plant.
According to reports from Russian media, the Kremlin’s military is utilizing glide bombs launched from planes at a lower angle to attack Ukrainian positions.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
On Thursday, John Kirby, the White House spokesperson for national security, stated that Russian troops are overpowering Ukrainian defenses in the eastern city. He expressed concern that Avdiivka may succumb to Russia’s control, attributing this to the dwindling supply of artillery ammunition for Ukrainian forces.
The United States is
The largest backer of Ukraine but some $60 billion for Kyiv is being held up by political disagreements among American lawmakers.
Avdiivka is a city located in the northern outskirts of Donetsk, an area that is partially occupied by Russian forces. It is highly fortified with a network of tunnels and concrete structures. If Moscow were to capture Avdiivka, it could provide them with a strategic advantage and potentially allow them to expand their presence in the region.
According to Vadym Filashkin, the governor of Donetsk region, the current population of the city is less than 1,000. Prior to the war, the city had a population of approximately 31,000, but it now stands as a destroyed remnant of its former self.
In December of last year, The Associated Press captured aerial footage of Avdiivka that revealed a chaotic and catastrophic landscape. The footage suggested that Russia had suffered significant casualties, as the bodies of approximately 150 soldiers, many in Russian uniforms, could be seen strewn across the area where they had taken cover near tree lines.
The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, stated on Thursday that capturing Avdiivka would hold more symbolic value for the Kremlin and would not result in significant alterations to the 930-mile front line, which has seen little movement in recent months.
According to an evaluation by the institute, if Russia were to take control of Avdiivka, it would not have a significant impact on operations and would mainly provide the Kremlin with immediate propaganda and political successes.
According to the statement, if Russian forces were to capture Avdiivka, it is improbable that they would be able to quickly and significantly advance. At most, the potential capture of Avdiivka by Russian forces would create a situation that could potentially lead to some limited tactical gains.
Source: cbsnews.com