Ukraine’s military has said outnumbered troops have been withdrawn from part of the eastern city of Avdiivka.
The decision comes as battles escalate in the region, but Ukraine insists the withdrawal from the southeastern part of the city provides no strategic advantage for Russia.
Speaking on Telegram, the commander of Ukraine’s southeastern sector Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said units were removed with minor losses.
“In a difficult battlefield situation, when only ruins and a pile of broken bricks remain from the fortification, our priority is to save the soldiers’ lives,” he said.
One of Ukraine’s most prominent fighting units, the Third Assault Brigade, had recently been rushed to Avdiivka to reinforce troops there.
The brigade described the situation in the city as “hell” and “threatening and unstable”, but that it had conducted a raid against Russian forces in parts of the town and inflicted heavy casualties.
Image: Avdiivka. Pic: Reuters
Why is the city important?
Russia is trying to encircle and capture Avdiivka nearly two years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Kyiv’s foothold in the town appears increasingly shaky, with its supply lines threatened.
Russian forces have been trying to advance on the town since October and have surrounded it on three sides, leaving limited resupply routes for the Ukrainian troops dug in there.
Nearly two years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, capturing the eastern city is viewed as key to Moscow’s aim of securing full control of the two provinces that make up the industrial Donbas region.
It comes as Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a trip to western Europe today in a bid to press allies to continue to provide military support.
The Ukrainian president signed a bilateral security agreement with Germany, and is set to sign another with France later today.
Speaking in Berlin, Mr Zelenskyy said his troops are “heroically defending strategic points and logistic routes”.
“Regarding Avdiivka, the situation there has been ongoing for several days,” he said.
Image: President Zelenskyy in Berlin. Pic: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters
“We remember what Russia does with our cities and villages. They will not stop until they completely destroy everything living there.”
He added: “I know in detail what is happening. I am in contact with our military leadership. I will not speak about the new military approaches they are using.
“Their task is to do everything to protect our people above all else.”
In terms of glamour and escapism, it doesn't get much bigger than the Baftas and, while this weekend, the great and the good from British cinema will be getting ready to party, further down the food chain for those working behind the scenes there's little cause to celebrate.New research conducted exclusively for Sky News by the broadcasting union BECTU paints a bleak picture of what life is really like for […]
Post comments (0)