A Ukrainian general said Russian forces were present in the city of Avdeevka, leaving open the possibility of Kiev withdrawing its troops from this key stronghold.
"Fierce battles are taking place in the city. Soldiers are using all means to hold back the enemy," General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Tavria operational-strategic group in charge of the Ukrainian army's eastern front, said today.
General Tarnavsky said the situation in Avdeevka was difficult but under control, stressing that the commanders were tasked with stabilizing the battlefield. However, he also hinted at the possibility of units withdrawing from the inner city and regrouping in more fortified positions outside the city.
Ukrainian Bradley armored vehicle near Avdeevka on February 11. Photo: AFP
"Many new positions are ready, while fortified positions are being built, taking into account all scenarios. We value every inch of Ukrainian land, but the highest priority remains on efforts to protect the lives of our soldiers," General Tarnavsky said.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced on the same day that it was mobilizing troops to reinforce the forces holding Avdeevka. "We are carrying out the planned reinforcements, troops are moving to the threatened directions. The Ukrainian army continues to hold back and prevent the enemy's attempts to encircle Avdeevka," the agency said.
Russian officials have not commented on the information. On February 15, pro-Russian military accounts published a video of Russian soldiers planting a flag near the nameplate of the city of Avdeevka, a location where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited and took a photo last month.
Russian soldiers plant a flag and move near the place where President Zelensky visited in Avdeevka in a video released on February 15. Video: VK/militarychronicles
After the Ukrainian army's counter-offensive failed, late last year Russia launched an attack on Avdeevka, a city in Donetsk province that Ukraine turned into a fortress in 2014 with a system of fortifications and strongholds.
Russian forces have surrounded Avdeevka from three sides, north, south and east, and are threatening Ukraine’s last supply line west of the city. Western experts say the situation of the Ukrainian army in Avdeevka, as well as the surrounding area, is becoming increasingly precarious under the pressure of the Russian offensive.
Location of Avdeevka and neighboring towns. Graphics: RYV
Capturing Avdeevka would allow Russia to extend its frontline by 50-60 km, creating a gateway from the capital Donetsk to other cities such as Konstantinovka in the north, bringing it closer to its goal of complete control over Donetsk Oblast. Western media have suggested that driving Ukraine out of Avdeevka would also be a symbolic victory for Russia ahead of the two-year anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict.
Vu Anh (According to AFP )
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