February 18, 2024, Moscow Kyiv. Since October last year, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has escalated again in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, with fierce fighting between the two sides in Avdeyevka and other places. Avdeyevka is the last line of defense of the Ukrainian army in the region and the key to the capture of the city of Donetsk by the Russian army. After months of offensive and defensive, the Ukrainian army finally announced the withdrawal of its troops from Avdeyevka in the early morning of the 17th to avoid being surrounded and annihilated by the Russian army. The Russian army then announced that it had taken full control of the city of Avdeyevka and continued to attack the remnants of the Ukrainian army. Putin congratulated the Russian army on its victory and called it a major victory. Ukraine** Zelensky said that this was a correct decision to protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. The international community has expressed concern over the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and called on the two sides to resume peaceful dialogue as soon as possible.
The city of Avdeyevka, located about 10 kilometers north of the city of Donetsk, is an important town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine and a large fortress of the Ukrainian army in the region, with about 30,000 inhabitants. Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2014, Avdeyevka has been the focus of contention between the two sides, and the Ukrainian army has established multi-layered fortifications in the city, deploying a large number of artillery, tanks, armored vehicles and other heavy ** in an attempt to stop the Russian army from advancing towards the city of Donetsk. The Russian army has continuously launched artillery strikes, air strikes, ground offensives and other ways on Avdeyevka, trying to break through the Ukrainian army's defense line and seize control of the city. The two sides engaged in a months-long tug-of-war around Avdeyevka, causing a large number of human and property losses, as well as great suffering for the local population.
In October last year, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict escalated again in eastern Ukraine, and the Russian army launched a new large-scale offensive against the Ukrainian defense line, targeting Avdeyevka. The Russian army used a large number of aircraft, drones, rocket artillery, mortars, etc., to carry out intensive bombing and artillery bombardment of the positions of the Ukrainian army, causing heavy losses to the Ukrainian army. The Russian army also took advantage of its advantages in personnel, equipment, logistics, etc., and constantly launched ground offensives on the positions of the Ukrainian army, trying to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian army and occupy the city of Avdeyevka. The Ukrainian army resisted vigorously, using its fortifications and terrain advantages in Avdeyevka to carry out counterattacks and counter-assaults, trying to stop the advance of the Russian army and defend the city of Avdeyevka. The two sides launched a brutal bloody battle around Avdeyevka, the fighting was fierce, the ** on both sides was very heavy, and the city of Avdeyevka was destroyed beyond recognition.
In February this year, the Russian army's offensive on Avdeyevka was further intensified, and a crisis began to appear in the defense line of the Ukrainian army. In two days from February 9 to 10, the Russian army launched 20 air strikes and more than 150 artillery strikes on Avdeyevka, the positions of the Ukrainian army were seriously damaged, and the soldiers and equipment of the Ukrainian army were also heavily damaged. The Russian army also launched a number of ground offensives in the west, south and east of Avdeyevka in two days from February 11 to 12, and the positions of the Ukrainian army were seized by the Russian army step by step, and the defense line of the Ukrainian army was compressed by the Russian army inch by inch, and the morale of the Ukrainian army was also worn out by the Russian army little by little. The commanders and soldiers of the Ukrainian army are beginning to realize that they are no longer powerless to stop the offensive of the Russian army, and if they continue to hold Avdeyevka, they will face the danger of being surrounded and annihilated by the Russian army. The top brass of the Ukrainian army has also begun to consider withdrawing troops from Avdeyevka in order to avoid greater losses and leave a glimmer of life for the future operations of the Ukrainian army.
In the early morning of February 17, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrsky announced that the Ukrainian army had decided to withdraw its troops from Avdeyevka to conduct defensive operations on a more favorable defensive line. He said that this decision was made based on the operational situation around Avdeyevka, in order to avoid encirclement and protect the lives and health of servicemen. He said that the Ukrainian troops stationed in Avdeyevka have fulfilled their combat missions with dignity and have done everything possible to inflict serious losses on the most elite units and equipment of the Russian army. He said that after the move, the Ukrainian army is taking measures to stabilize the situation on the front line and new positions, and he also said that the Ukrainian army will return to Avdeyevka.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program