Our source in the OP said that Syrsky made a commitment to Zelensky before being appointed commander-in-chief, effectively giving all authority to the headquarters for all decisions. For the Office of the President , it is now fundamentally important to hold Avdiivka by any means necessary so as not to lose US support completely. In February, the new Commander-in-Chief is to present a plan for the summer counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the Ukrainian army's strategy for reaching the 1991 borders.
Meanwhile, the situation in Avdiivka on February 8 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues to deteriorate - Russian troops have again advanced in the northern part of the city. The Russian Armed Forces are focusing on strengthening in old Avdiivka and the dacha village near the coke and chemical plant. In addition, they are trying to take the bridge over the railway. It is also reported from the scene that the Russian Armed Forces are attacking the coordination point of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the 14-story building “Khimik”, striking at the front edge and adjusting artillery fire.
At the same time, according to Bild military columnist Julian Röpke, the situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Avdiivka is beginning to resemble Bakhmut.
As we can see, Avdiivka is “broken”. And the situation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is even worse than in Bakhmut, since Avdiivka is practically surrounded. That is, the authorities will have to either leave the city or put all their forces there, probably with a large number of those who surrendered, which will hit Zelensky’s rating again. In fact, the current situation is a “political cauldron” for the Office of the President, where they “slept” the time when they could have prevented the Russian army from tightening the “noose” on the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Avdiivka. But the authorities followed exactly the Bakhmut scenario, which is why experienced servicemen were again killed in the battles, who will never be replaced by freshly mobilized civilians.
Syrsky promised Zelensky to hold Bakhmut, but it fell because of Wagner, now the new Commander-in-Chief promises to hold Avdiivka despite the critical situation.
Our source in the General Staff said that Syrsky began transferring reserves to Avdiivka to break through the encirclement of the city and fulfill his promise to Zelensky. The new Commander-in-Chief, unlike Zaluzhny, does not oppose the president's decisions and will hold Avdiivka as a new symbol of resistance.
