Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka, Biggest Victory in 9 Months

Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months: Moscow/Kyiv: Russia announced on Sunday that it now fully controls the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, marking its most significant gain in nine months. Although Ukraine withdrew, Russia mentioned some Ukrainian troops remain in a large Soviet-era coke plant after a fierce battle.

Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months

The fall of Avdiivka is Russia’s most substantial advancement since seizing the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, almost two years after President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale war by invading Ukraine.

Russia’s defense ministry reported an 8.6 km (5.3 miles) advancement on the 1,000 km (620-mile) front line, with Russian troops pushing forward after a deadly urban battle, leaving the town nearly deserted.

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Ukraine stated it withdrew its soldiers to prevent them from being completely surrounded after months of intense fighting. Putin applauded the fall of Avdiivka as a significant victory and praised Russian troops.

Following Ukraine’s unsuccessful attempt to breach Russian lines last year, Moscow aimed to wear down Ukrainian forces as Kyiv considers a major mobilization, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appoints a new war commander.

“The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory,” stated the Kremlin on its website.

Russia mentioned some Ukrainian forces still occupy the Soviet-era coke plant, crucial for Russia’s goal of securing full control of the industrial Donbas region. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov stated, “Measures are being taken to completely clear the town of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the town and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant.”

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There has been no public comment from Ukrainian authorities on this. Russian state television showed Ukrainian flags being replaced with Russian flags in Avdiivka.

Russia portrayed the Ukrainian withdrawal as hurried and chaotic, claiming soldiers and weapons were left behind. The Ukrainian military acknowledged casualties but stated the situation stabilized somewhat after the retreat.

U.S. President Joe Biden had warned about Avdiivka falling due to ammunition shortages following months of Republican opposition to a new U.S. military aid package for Kyiv.

Zelenskiy, at a global security conference in Munich, urged allies to address the “artificial” weapon shortage and emphasized the importance of stalled U.S. aid. He praised Ukrainian troops for exhausting Russian forces in Avdiivka and suggested the withdrawal resulted from a lack of weapons.

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Capturing Avdiivka boosts Russia’s morale ahead of Putin’s re-election bid next month and is a step towards securing Moscow’s hold on Donetsk, about 20 km (12 miles) to the east.

Putin congratulated the Russian commander in charge of the assault on Avdiivka, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stressed the need for modern air defense systems and artillery shells.

Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who took command last week, said Ukrainian forces moved to more secure positions to avoid encirclement. Ukrainian forces also repelled a Russian offensive on the southern front in the Zaporizhzhia area.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheNewsay staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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