Ukrainian troops decided to leave the city of Avdiyivka in order to avoid a possible encirclement and preserve the lives and health of their servicemen. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky announced this.
"In connection with the deterioration of the situation near Avdiivka and in order to ensure the safety of our servicemen, it was decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to the defense in more advantageous positions," said General Sirskyi.
According to Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the head of the Tavria Operational-Tactical Department, the military complied with the order and left Avdiivka, moving to positions that had been prepared in advance.
"We successfully avoided encirclement, withdrew our personnel and took up defensive positions at new frontiers," Tarnavskyi emphasized.
The bloody battle for Avdiivka lasted for four months, which began with a large-scale offensive by Russian troops in October 2023. The Defense Forces of Ukraine managed to hold the defense for a long period, however, at the end of January, experts began to talk about the critical situation and the need to withdraw the garrison, but this did not happen.
In early February, the situation became even more critical, and Russian troops almost succeeded in cutting off the supply routes for the defenders of the city.
Avdiyivka, located not far from Donetsk, which was captured by pro-Russian militants almost 10 years ago, was strategically important as an industrial center. Ukrainian troops held the city, having built strong defensive fortifications. However, as a result of the full-scale war, the local factory ceased operations, most of the inhabitants left the city to escape the daily bombings, and the city itself was reduced to ruins.
Avdiivka had great political and military significance for both sides of the conflict. The Russian side tried to move the Ukrainian troops to a safe distance from the "capital of the Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR).
According to Russian plans, Avdiyivka was to become an important site in the period of preparation for the presidential elections in Russia, which were to be held in March 2024.
For Ukraine, the city was important as a major railway junction, a powerful industrial center, and also as a potential threat to Donetsk.
The road connecting Donetsk, Horlivka and Luhansk runs not far from Avdiyivka. Its cutting would significantly complicate the logistics of the enemy's troops.
In October 2023, the Russian army launched a large-scale offensive on Avdiivka, involving about 40,000 troops. They attacked from different flanks, trying to bypass the city and surround it.
The Ukrainian authorities claimed that the Russians suffered significant losses, but there is no independent confirmation of this data. Social networks publish videos of the destruction of Russian equipment near Avdiivka.
During four months of fighting, Russian troops managed to advance several kilometers in the north and south of the city. They also approached the local coke plant, which was held by Ukrainian forces.
In January, it became known that Russian troops managed to break into the city from the southern and northern outskirts, starting street battles. Also, they were approaching the main paved road, which was used to supply the city's garrison.
By the beginning of February, the situation had become critical for Ukrainian forces, and some military analysts expressed outrage at the threat of encircling the city and its defenders. However, Kyiv did not give the order to retreat from Avdiivka, which was reminiscent of the situation with Bakhmut. Even with the existence of a "safe corridor" for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it turned out that it was very close, just a few kilometers away.
In December, during the capture by Russian troops of the villages of Stepove and Berdychi, as well as the breakthrough to the coke-chemical plant, the maintenance of Avdiivka became of little value. Although some voices demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces, the leadership expressed its confidence in preserving the city and sending additional units there.
During the entire period of active military operations, Avdiivka was defended by the 110th brigade, and later the 47th brigade and other units came to its aid.
In mid-February, it became known about the regrouping of the 3rd separate assault brigade in the city. At that time, some positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the southern flank, especially "Zenith", were partially surrounded, but, according to the General Staff, a withdrawal was achieved on February 15.
On the night of February 17, the commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, Andriy Biletsky, announced a retreat to new positions.
"I express my gratitude to the fighters for the worthy battle they fought in Avdiivka, in extremely unequal conditions, when the Russian forces prevailed both in terms of numbers and equipment and artillery," said Biletskyi. He also expressed gratitude to the command for a "considered decision".
Despite significant losses, the Kremlin achieved its goals in this direction. The last line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which had been stable since 2014, fell.
The next "big task" for the Russian troops may be the rear town of Pokrovsk, located 40 kilometers to the west, or the nearby Selidove. However, Russian forces may also begin moving north to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
