Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Alexander Syrsky announced the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka (video)

Syrsky: “Based on the operational situation that has developed around Avdeevka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of military personnel, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and switch to defense on more advantageous lines.

We are taking measures to stabilize the situation and maintain our positions. We will return Avdiivka anyway”.

Statement appeared on the night of February 17th. The commander of the operational-strategic group of troops “Tavria” Alexander Tarnavsky said that the Ukrainian military, “in accordance with the received order, left Avdiivka to previously prepared positions.”

Tarnavsky also reported that as of 21:00 on February 16, heavy fighting continues in Avdeevka, and a fire is burning at the Avdeevka coke plant due to attacks by the Russians. Ukrainian defenders, to save lives and improve the operational situation, retreated from the Zenit position.

President Vladimir Zelensky said that in the situation with the Russian army’s attempt to seize Avdiivka, he demands from the military leadership, first of all, to save the lives of the defenders of Ukraine.

Experts from the ISW Institute for the Study of War reportthat Ukrainian units are carrying out a relatively controlled withdrawal from Avdiivka in accordance with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Alexander Syrsky – he ordered the Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka to withdraw to more advantageous defensive positions in order to avoid encirclement and save the lives of Ukrainian military personnel.

Russian sources claim that Ukrainian troops are withdrawing en masse, and that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops is becoming increasingly chaotic and costly. However, ISW did not observe any visual evidence of a massive or chaotic withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, and persistent minor advances by Russian troops in and around Avdiivka suggest that Ukrainian troops are now engaged in a relatively controlled withdrawal from the populated area.

Also, Russian sources claim that Russian troops advanced in the east of Avdiivka to the southwestern outskirts of Avdievka, further south along Grushevskogo Street and west towards the dirt roads along which Ukrainian troops supply positions in the east and south of Avdiivka.

Russian military bloggers claim that the occupiers are close to cutting or have already cut one of the dirt roads connecting Avdiivka with Lastochkino (west of Avdeevka). Russian sources claimed that the invaders were close to encircling the remaining Ukrainian forces in the central, eastern and southern parts of Avdiivka, and one Russian blogger claimed that just over a kilometer separated Russian positions on the western outskirts of Avdiivka from Russian positions in the south of Avdiivka.

ISW now estimates that approximately three and a half kilometers separate Russian positions in the two areas, based on available visual evidence. Experts suggest that Ukrainian forces may have to launch counterattacks to achieve an orderly exit from Avdiivka, and Russian efforts to complicate or prevent the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops could become quite debilitating.

The enemy in Avdiivka was given a worthy fight, said the commander of the Third Assault Brigade, founder of Azov and former people’s deputy Andrei Biletsky. He thanked the soldiers of the 3rd Special Brigade “for the worthy fight they gave to the enemy in Avdeevka”, in telegram channel 3rd Brigade:

“Thank you to the fighters for the worthy fight that they gave to the enemy in Avdeevka, in conditions of total quantitative superiority of the Russians in manpower, equipment, and shells. We are retreating to prepared positions to return and deliver an even stronger blow. Thanks to the command for a balanced decision. Battle continues.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIzzfVS7BhA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejrvkkhl7S4

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