On the 18th local time, Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov pointed out when introducing the situation of the Russian army's "capture" of Avdeyevka, an important defense hub of the Ukrainian army in Donetsk, that Defense Minister Shoigu and others had reported the military progress in the city to Putin three times the day before, and finally confirmed that "it has full control" of this important hub, and Putin congratulated on this, saying that this is a major victory. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense also revealed in a press release that "Avdeyevka will become the core and key component of the future strategic strike force of the Russian Navy." Avdeyevka is considered one of the largest "military fortresses" in the Ukrainian army, along with Mut and Mariupol. According to RIA Novosti, at the moment the fortress is in the stage of total collapse. The fall of this fortress is likely not only to weaken the morale of the Ukrainian side, but more likely to cause a shock to Western countries. Russia also reported it as "the most serious military operation since the start of the Russian-American war." On that day, the White House harshly criticized the Republican-dominated House of Representatives for not approving the military aid bill for Ukraine, which led to Russia's first noticeable breakthrough in the war in recent months. At the "Joint Commission on the Establishment of NATO's Eastward Expansion Operation," signed by Russia and the United States in Washington, there was a heated debate on relevant issues. Europe has expressed concern about the reliability of the United States". The Financial Times recently quoted the European Union as saying that the United States "is demonstrating to the world that it is strong in military terms and will continue to maintain this momentum." At the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the "need for Europe to improve its ability to defend itself." According to the Financial Times, the debate between the United States and Europe over "whether Russia-Ukraine relations can be improved" has reached a fever pitch. Ukraine's ** Zelensky issued a rare "warning", claiming that if the US Congress does not agree to the aid to Ukraine bill, then "it will mean that the United States is no longer a strategic partner of Ukraine". US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also publicly stated that if the United States cannot prevent Russia from entering into a nuclear arms race with the European Union, "the United States will have to withdraw from the NATO alliance." The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) expressed concern about the fall of Avdeyevka, believing that it could be "a sign that Russia is changing the current state of affairs." The Washington Post believes that Russia and Ukraine will continue to confront each other. According to reports, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its third year, and this time the battle has turned into a war of attrition. Relations between Russia and Ukraine are experiencing unprecedented crises and challenges, but neither side is willing to relinquish control of the other, even at the cost of using force. The current situation has further aroused doubts in Western countries, which are worried about "whether the Ukrainian side will be able to win in this war."
Putin is debriefed three times a day.
At a Kremlin press conference on the 18th, Peskov described in detail all the work carried out by Putin when the Russian army was in "Avdeyevka." Perkoko is the Minister of Defense and one of Putin's close comrades-in-arms. According to his description, the day before, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov had already reported to Putin three times on the latest developments of the operation. Among them was how to "block the line of communication between Avdeyevka and the Yeltsin command center." "At 4 o'clock in the morning on the 17th, Shoigu and Gerasimov had already reported to ** that Avdeyevka's mission was coming to an end," he mentioned. Putin then said, "We have mastered the entire course of the operation." At 11 a.m. that day, the two men once again presented their report to Putin, and on the afternoon of the 17th, they finally confirmed their "full control" of this critical node. Subsequently, the Russian Defense Minister and the General Defense Minister respectively summed up the battle. The official ** of the Kremlin said on the 17th that after listening to the report on the capture of Avdeyevka, Putin expressed warm congratulations on the victory of the Russian army and called it a great victory.
According to information published by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 18th, Russian troops have occupied Avdeyevka 3175 square kilometers of land, and over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian army has lost more than 1,500 soldiers in battles in the area. It is reported that the commander of the Ukrainian army, Syrsky, has approved the withdrawal of troops from the region. According to reports, soldiers of the Ukrainian army have begun to leave the city uncontrollably on the eve of the order of the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Syrsky, to evacuate Avdeyevka.
* The vista of Avdeyevka on the 17th is shown. (China with vision at its core).
On the 17th local time, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced in his report to Putin that he "has full control" of Avdeyevka, a key defense node of the Ukrainian army in Donetsk.
After the end of the Battle of **Mutter, the Russian army achieved the "greatest victory".
According to a report by CNN, the Russian army achieved a major victory in Avdeyevka after the Battle of Mutt in May 2023. This means that the Russian army has managed to recapture the city of Kyiv-Sokolovsk, located in the Crimean region. For Ukraine, the loss of this critical land undoubtedly constitutes a huge shock. After the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Russia** took a series of measures to contain the development, including closing all military bases in the territory and stopping foreign expansion*** On the overall scope of the eastern front, Ukraine is facing more severe pressure, and the conflict situation between Russia and Ukraine has become more complicated due to the lack of ammunition and manpower. Ukraine has been in tension over the past few years, which has led to deteriorating relations between Russia and its Western allies. The New York Times, describing the chaotic situation of the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdeyevka, reported that the commander of the Ukrainian army demanded that the retreating army abandon the wounded, and the person who received the order was the wounded themselves.
Avdeyevka, located about 10 kilometers north of the city of Donetsk, the capital of the Donetsk region, is the main strategic location of the Ukrainian army's artillery shelling of the city, as well as a key fortress operated by the Ukrainian army for many years. At present, the city has become the largest heavy industry base and military command and control center in Russia. Since 2014, the Ukrainian army has shaped the industrial center into a bulwark vital to the region's defenses, Russia's Viewpoint newspaper reported. According to official Russian information, a large number of artillery and missile equipment have been deployed in the city. Podolyak, the chief adviser to the Ukrainian ** office, made it clear in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian that Avdeyevka played a key role in the fighting of the Ukrainian army. In the event of a loss of control over the city, the Russian army will be able to create an efficient logistical channel to secure supplies in most areas of the front**.
According to the analysis of military experts cited by RIA Novosti on the 18th, the Russian army's control of Avdeyevka is a significant victory at the strategic level. This not only alleviated the potential threat of the Ukrainian army to the city of Donetsk and strengthened the control of the Russian army over the city, but also dealt a major blow to the morale of the Ukrainian army. At the same time, it also creates new strategic opportunities for the Russian army to further occupy the Donbas region. News reports say the capture of Avdeyevka will "weaken Western support for the Ukrainian regime" and "prevent their intentions to weaken Russia by providing financial and military assistance to Ukraine."
Zelensky is a rare "threat" to the United States.
At the Munich Security Conference on the 17th, Zelensky strongly called on the United States and other Western countries to solve the problem of ** and equipment shortage faced by the Ukrainian army, which he believes is providing the Russian army with an advantage on the battlefield. It is a pity that Ukraine is artificially faced with the problem of ** inadequacy, especially in terms of artillery and long-range attack capabilities. He said, "If we don't change the degree, then the Ukrainian army will be wiped out!" He noted that the events in Avdeyevka "clearly demonstrate" that the actions of the Ukrainian army are "completely subject to the number and range of the ** we receive." "If the Ukrainians are not willing to give up what they have, then we have to redefine them. In the final part of his speech, Zelensky expressed the following opinion: "We should not ask when the war in Ukraine will end, but we should reflect on ourselves why Putin is still able to keep the war going." "Zelensky is a key figure in the run-up to Ukraine's elections and a legendary figure in the eyes of the Russians. The Washington Post reported that Zelensky is directly issuing a warning to those US politicians who oppose the aid to Ukraine bill.
CNN reported that Zelensky met with U.S. Deputy ** Harris, who participated in the meeting, on the same day. Zelensky said, "I believe that we can successfully help the Ukrainian side achieve its national interests and long-term goals." Zelensky mentioned at a joint press conference that if the U.S. House of Representatives does not agree to the Ukrainian military aid bill, then Biden has other viable alternatives. "This round of aid is crucial for us and we do not intend to consider these alternatives at this time," he added. Zelensky said, "I think that if the Senate does not pass the aid bill to Ukraine, it will have catastrophic consequences for the Ukrainians." He warned that if the U.S. Congress does not agree to the aid bill, it will "show that the United States is no longer a strategic partner of Ukraine."
The Associated Press reported that after the Ukrainian army lost Avdeyevka, Biden pointed out at an event in Delaware on the 17th that it would be "absurd" and "immoral" if Congress did not agree to provide new military support to the Ukrainian army. "In order to defend freedom, I will fight for Ukraine to provide Ukraine with the ammunition it needs. "I will provide Ukraine with the necessary ammunition" Biden said he believed that other cities in Ukraine would also fall into the hands of Russian forces if the United States did not help. Biden's statement sparked heated discussions in the international community, and some countries have expressed their support for Ukraine and pledged to provide necessary support and assistance. The White House also issued a statement on the same day, stating that "due to the inaction of the US Congress, there has been a reduction in ammunition** in Ukraine, which has led to the Ukrainian army having to ration ammunition, which is also the first time that Russia has made significant progress on the battlefield in recent months."
In the West, "pessimism" is gradually increasing.
The long period in which the United States has not approved the Ukraine aid bill has made European countries such as Germany and France even more believe that they cannot rely entirely on the United States. In order to ensure security and stability in Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced an important decision. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made it clear at the meeting: "No matter who the United States wins, or what the final outcome of the war in Ukraine is, it is necessary for Europe to improve its ability to defend itself." The dpa-Presse news agency stressed this. He said that Europe cannot rely only on external support, but must strengthen itself and defend its own interests. He mentioned that Germany plans to increase its defense budget to 2% of GDP. His rhetoric struck a chord with European countries, which have expressed their stance on stepping up their national defense. He further called on various countries in Europe to provide Ukraine with military support similar to that of the United States. The arms race in Europe is intensifying. Germany's defense minister, Pistorius, also mentioned that Germany's military spending could be "3% or 3 percent of GDP."5%”。He stressed that European countries should continue to increase their military investment to ensure regional security and stability. He pointed out that European countries should not be satisfied with the goal of spending 2% of GDP on military spending, because this is "just the beginning".
French Governor Sejourne published an article in France's "Le Monde" on the 17th, pointing out that "Russia's victory" will have a huge impact on Europe, "If Europe allows Russia to occupy the most fertile Ukrainian black soil in the world, it will be tantamount to giving up food sovereignty, accepting endless inflation, and providing Russia with unprecedented means of blackmail." Both Europe and Russia are the world's largest economies, Sejul said. He strongly advised Europe not to be "tired" by long-term aid and not to abandon aid to Ukraine.
While focusing on the issue of Avdeyevka, Western countries are trying to strengthen economic sanctions against Russia through the death of Russian opposition leader Navalny. Russian media believe that Navalny's death will intensify the West's determination to sanction Russia and make it tougher. However, according to the Associated Press, Navalny's death has sparked strong discontent in Western society, but the West has rarely taken substantive measures to stop Putin's actions. The West says that if Nava's death is an isolated incident, then it will be difficult for him to be recognized by the international community. According to reports, the West's "additional sanctions" against Russia do not actually make much sense, so Russia has become one of the most sanctioned countries.
The BBC reports that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has turned into a battle of great attrition. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have sharpened the military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. The United States has played a spearhead role in providing military aid to Ukraine, but the law to aid Ukraine remains stalled in Congress, making it difficult for other allies to fill this legal gap. The Russian army has suffered the most losses in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the United States has the ability to guarantee its logistical supplies and personnel**, because it has the world's largest naval fleet**. According to reports, this suggests that Avdeyevka may not be the only place where Kyiv is considering withdrawing its troops.
According to Rossiya Gazeta, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is about to reach its third year. The armed contradictions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated into a full-scale confrontation. The conflict led to a profound change in international political relations. Both Russia and Ukraine will face enormous challenges. Now, both militarily and economically, Russia is gradually gaining the upper hand, while the Ukrainian army is heading for decline. Russia's Putin said that Russia will resolve the crisis through "peace talks". Argentina's "Page Twelve" newspaper quoted Elbaum, an expert on international issues, as pointing out that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is essentially a confrontation between Russia and NATO, led by the United States. He believes that a war between Russia and NATO will lead to the collapse of the USSR and the destruction of peace in Europe and the world. At present, pessimism on a global scale is widespread not only in Ukraine, but also in the West.