Russian claims full control of Ukraine's Avdiivka town

Russian Troops Capture Avdiivka Town, Says Defense Minister Shoigu

Moscow: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Friday that Moscow has taken full control of Ukraine’s Avdiivka town. The troops of the Center group, led by Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev, had completely captured Avdiivka, the defence ministry announced on its Telegram channel, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the defense ministry, Ukraine had lost more than 1,500 servicemen in Avdiivka in the last 24 hours. The full control of Avdiivka had allowed the Russian troops to push back the front line from Donetsk, thus significantly securing the military from Ukrainian attacks, the ministry added.

In response, Ukrainian Armed Forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on Saturday that the country has ordered the withdrawal of troops from Avdiivka town. In a post on social media, Syrsky said: “To avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines.”

The news of the Russian capture of Avdiivka town comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. The situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile, with no sign of an immediate de-escalation in the conflict.

Russia’s move to capture Avdiivka town has sparked international condemnation, with calls for both sides to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The United Nations and the European Union have urged both Russia and Ukraine to adhere to the Minsk agreements and engage in dialogue to end the fighting.

The capture of Avdiivka town by Russian troops marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation and urging all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution.