AFU to withdraw from Avdiivka? Military expert named key factor

At present, the Russian occupation army is trying to surround the Ukrainian fighters in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, from the north and south. The outcome of this battle depends on the resources available to the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

If the resources are insufficient, Ukraine's top military leadership may decide to withdraw from Avdiivka. This opinion was expressed by military expert Vladyslav Selezniov in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA.

"If our units engaged in defensive battles in the Avdiivka area lack resources, the Ukrainian army will be forced to conduct maneuverable defense and may even retreat to the west of Avdiivka. Our military leadership will not sacrifice our men to hold Avdiivka," he emphasized.

"But since the information on the availability of resources in the Ukrainian Defense Forces is classified, I am not ready to predict whether they will be able to keep Avdiivka under control or not," the expert said.

Selezniov emphasized that it is very important for the Ukrainian Defense Forces to strengthen their defense. "The key factor here is how efficiently and promptly our engineer units will be able to work. On the frontlines where the enemy is trying to concentrate its main efforts, it is necessary to create additional engineering and fortification structures and dig trenches and dugouts. This will allow us to deter the enemy's offensive with less losses," he explained.

The expert added that the occupier's attempt to capture Avdiivka was motivated by two reasons. The first one is that the Kremlin needs victories even if it means taking a small settlement. The second is an attempt to push Ukrainian troops as far away from the temporarily occupied Donetsk as possible.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, according to the head of the Avdiivka city Regional Military Administration, Vitaliy Barabash, the Russian occupiers are trying to take control of the coke plant. According to him, the logic of such actions is unclear as this enterprise is actually a trap.