15,000 Russian troops surrounded day and night, the citadel of Avdiivka was on the verge of falling 0
(Dan Tri) – The Ukrainian commander admitted that the situation in Avdiivka is extremely difficult, even though Russia is suffering heavy losses.
Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery towards the Russian position in the direction of Avdiivka (Photo: Getty).
According to an announcement on social networks on February 16, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, a force recently deployed to Avdiivka, is facing about 15,000 Russian troops on this fierce front.
Fierce fighting continues in Avdiivka.
Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade announced that in the fighting, this force `obliterated` Russia’s 74th and 114th independent motorized rifle brigades.
Avdiivka, a frontline city just a few kilometers from the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, has faced fierce Russian attacks since October last year as Moscow’s army sought to surround it and take control.
Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade confirmed on February 15 that the force had been `urgently` redeployed to Avdiivka as the situation became `more serious`.
The Ukrainian brigade said that although Russian forces suffered heavy losses, the situation remained `extremely difficult`.
`Special operations carried out by the GRU (Russian military intelligence agency), including night attacks using night vision equipment, sabotage operations and air and artillery strikes
On February 16, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said `the situation in Avdiivka is very difficult but under control`.
General Tarnavskyi announced that the Ukrainian army had retreated from Zenit, a position on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka and had been a Ukrainian stronghold since 2014.
`After months of confrontation, the command decided to withdraw from the Zenit position on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka… The decision was made to save manpower and improve the combat situation,` Oleksandr Tarnavsky, a Ukrainian general
According to him, Ukrainian units retreated with minor losses.
`In a difficult battlefield situation, when the fortifications are left with only ruins and piles of broken bricks, our top priority is to preserve the lives of soldiers,` General Tarnavsky emphasized.
General Tarnavsky described the Avdiivka area as the `hottest spot` on the entire front line, about 1,000km long.
`The enemy conducted large-scale bomb attacks day and night, constantly attacking simultaneously from many directions,` the Ukrainian commander confirmed.
Location of Avdiivka city (Photo: FT).
According to Kyiv Post, the Russian army captured an important fortress in the city of Avdiivka on February 15, forcing Ukrainian forces to retreat hundreds of meters under artillery and mortar fire.
As Ukrainian troops left the Zenit fortified area southeast of the city, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kiev’s priority was to minimize losses, even though Ukrainian troops were trying to protect strategic routes.
`Tactically, securing these positions does not give the enemy a strategic advantage and does not change the situation in the Avdiivka defense campaign,` General Tarnavsky commented.
He added measures were taken to expand logistics routes and ammunition was delivered in increasing quantities.
Avdiivka is considered a strategic city, the gateway to Donetsk in Eastern Ukraine.
Both Russia and Ukraine see control of Avdiivka as propaganda in the context of the deadlocked conflict.
One of Russia’s main goals is to completely control Donetsk and prevent Ukraine from controlling the province.
On the Ukrainian side, from Avdiivka, the Kiev army can threaten the railway lines in Donetsk, forcing Russia to find alternative routes, considered less effective, to transport soldiers and equipment around.
