Ukrainian troops pull out of Avdiivka for strategic repositioning — Syrskyi
Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from Avdiivka, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on the night of Feb. 17.
“Based on the operational situation that has developed around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and to preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I have made the decision to withdraw our units from the city and transition to defense on more advantageous positions,” Syrskyi said.
He added that measures are currently being taken to stabilize the situation and maintain the positions held.
“The lives of servicemen are the highest value. We will still reclaim Avdiivka,” he noted.
The Battle for Avdiivka: What is known
Russian forces intensified their offensive on Avdiivka in October 2023, simultaneously with massive strikes on the city.
On Feb. 8, Dmytro Lykhoviy, a representative of the Tavria operational-strategic grouping of troops, stated that fighting continues in Avdiivka within the city limits.
On Feb. 14, the Donetsk Regional State Administration announced that the road to Avdiivka is completely under fire. According to Lykhovyi, if Russia cuts off the main logistical artery to Avdiivka, there are alternative routes.
The next day, fighters from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade confirmed that they were urgently redeployed to the area of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, to reinforce Ukrainian troops.
Oleksandr Borodin, the press officer of the 3rd OSAB, says that the ratio of forces in the Avdiivka area as of Feb. 15 is one to seven. Russia has concentrated mechanized linear brigades and specialists from the GRU in this area.
On the night of Feb. 16, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of the Tavria operational-strategic grouping of troops, stated that maneuvers are being conducted in Avdiivka and the situation is “complex but controlled.”
On the same day, he announced that Ukrainian troops withdrew from the Zenit position on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka.
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