Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has reported that the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine is now under full Russian control. This report follows an announcement from the Russian Defense Ministry congratulating Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev, commander of the “Center” troop group, on taking control of the city. Avdiivka was described as a crucial defensive center for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Video footage allegedly shows Russian soldiers raising the Russian flag in Avdiivka, marking the city’s purported takeover. The Ukrainian forces had been vastly outnumbered and had faced daily attacks since October, ultimately leading to their withdrawal from the city. The commander of southern Ukraine forces, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, announced the withdrawal from the city on Friday, citing Russia’s numerical superiority in personnel, artillery, and aviation.
The decision to withdraw came after intensified attacks by Moscow, with airstrikes, artillery strikes, and ground assaults targeting the area in recent weeks. Russian forces had carried out 20 airstrikes and over 150 artillery strikes in the past 24 hours alone, according to Tarnavskyi. The Russian forces were accused of “practically wiping the city off the face of the earth.”
Ukraine’s new military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov visited the front lines in Avdiivka, pledging to send reinforcements to prevent the enemy from advancing deeper. However, following “hellish” conditions and the enemy “coming in from all sides,” Ukrainian forces ultimately decided to withdraw.
Syrskyi defended the withdrawal as necessary to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of the military, announcing plans to stabilize the situation and maintain positions. The commander of the Ukrainian 3rd Assault Brigade, Andrii Biletsky, thanked the command for its decision and indicated that troops would come back and hit the enemy even harder.
Both sides have suffered immense losses, with Russia appearing to have calculated that the offensive was worth the cost given its numerical advantage in the region.