The Ukrainian army was forced to abandon the town of Avdiivka in the east of the country on Saturday, granting Russia its biggest symbolic victory after the failure of the counter-offensive launched by kyiv last summer.
“In accordance with the order received, (we) withdrew from Avdiïvka to positions prepared in advance,” announced Ukrainian general Oleksandr Tarnavsky, who commands this area, in a message published on the social network Telegram night from Friday to Saturday.
Faced with a growing lack of resources due in particular to the blocking of American military aid, Ukraine could hardly avoid this withdrawal in the face of Russia which, with more soldiers and ammunition, was pushing its troops to obtain a conquest at a few days before the second anniversary of the start of the invasion, February 24.