The Ministry of Defense announced more advantageous positions in the Avdeevka direction

Russian troops occupied “more advantageous lines and positions” in the Avdiivka direction, according to a report from the Ministry of Defense on the telegram channel.

In this direction, attacks were carried out on the Jaeger and mechanized brigades, as well as on the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defense brigade. The department stated that in this area nine attacks by the Ukrainian army were repulsed near the settlements of Lastochkino and Pervomaiskoye, Kyiv’s losses amounted to more than 500 people killed and wounded.

In the Donetsk direction, in the Leninsky area, four attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled; in the Yuzhno-Donetsk direction, in the Shevchenko area of ​​the Zaporozhye region, one was repelled. In addition, 96 drones were shot down during the day.

The battles for Avdeevka have been going on since October 2023, but in recent weeks, Russian troops have taken “more advantageous lines and positions” in the Avdeevka direction, according to a report from the Ministry of Defense in the telegram channel. On the night of February 17, Kiev announced the beginning of the withdrawal of troops from the populated area and the transition to defense “on more advantageous lines.”

On the evening of February 17, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin about taking Avdeevka under full control. The head of state congratulated the Russian military. On the morning of February 19 , the Ministry of Defense announced that the Avdeevsky Coke and Chemical Plant (AKHZ), located northwest of the city, had come under the control of Moscow.

As Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky explained , the Ukrainian Armed Forces left Avdiivka for fear of being surrounded; the decision was logical based on the need to preserve the fighters. The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin , noted that many Ukrainian soldiers surrendered.