Ukrainian defense forces withdrew from Avdiivka: Syrskyi explained what will happen next

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has decided to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka, Donetsk region. Our defenders will move to defense in more favorable positions.

This was announced on Saturday night, February 17, on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief. The military is currently taking measures to stabilize the situation and hold their positions.

"Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of the military, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines," Syrskyi said.

He emphasized that Ukrainian soldiers had fulfilled their duty with dignity, did their best to destroy the best Russian military units and inflicted significant losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy.

"The lives of servicemen are the highest value. We will take back Avdiivka anyway," the Chief added.

On his Telegram channel, the commander of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, confirmed that the Defense Forces had withdrawn from Avdiivka to their previously prepared positions in accordance with the order.

"In a situation where the enemy is advancing over the corpses of their own soldiers with a ten-to-one shelling advantage and under constant bombardment, this is the only right decision," he emphasized.

The encirclement of our forces in Avdiivka was prevented and the personnel was withdrawn, after which our soldiers took up defense at the designated lines, Commander Tarnavskyi added.

The commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, Andrii Biletskyi, commented on the withdrawal of our soldiers from Avdiivka. He thanked the command for the balanced decision and noted that the battle continues.

"I am grateful to the soldiers for the worthy fight they gave the enemy in Avdiivka in the face of total numerical superiority of the Russians in manpower, equipment and shells. They did everything and more. I am grateful to everyone for their resilience. We are retreating to prepared positions to return and strike an even stronger blow," the statement reads.

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