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The hotly contested city of Avdiivka falls to the Russians. Due to a lack of ammunition, the Ukrainian armed forces had to retreat, leaving many soldiers behind.
Avdiivka – The chaotic withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the difficult city of Avdiivka is claiming victims. Although the Russian army only managed to achieve a Pyrrhic victory here, the Ukrainian side also suffered heavy losses. According to initial reports, the hasty and hasty retreat left many wounded soldiers behind.
Next setback in Ukraine war: up to 1,000 soldiers left behind in Avdiivka
The loss of Avdiivka is not only a symbolic but also a moral loss for Kiev in the Ukrainian war. The Ukrainian army had to leave behind numerous wounded soldiers in the Donbass region. This defeat could have a serious impact on the already tense Ukrainian morale. Currently, there is talk on the Ukrainian side of 850 to 1,000 soldiers left behind. An exact number cannot yet be confirmed, but Western estimates appear to confirm the extent of the losses, reports the New York Times.
A Russian soldier walks through the destroyed streets of Avdiivka. © Stanislav Krasilnikov/IMAGO
Ukrainian General: Correct decision to withdraw from Avdiivka
After Russia severed an important supply line for Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainians attempted to withdraw. Around 50,000 Russian soldiers were mobilized in the battle for Avdiivka, as the city occupies a strategically important position in the Donbass region. The reason why Russia is able to take the city right now is due to the lack of ammunition on the Ukrainian side. General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi commented on the situation. “In a situation where the enemy advances with a 10:1 advantage under constant fire against the corpses of its own soldiers, this is the only correct solution”, as quoted by The New York Times.
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After Ukraine's failed counterattack last year and the defeat at Avdiivka, Ukrainian morale may be in danger. Ukraine recently wanted to recruit 500,000 citizens for war, but this encountered political obstacles and was blocked in parliament.
Descriptions from soldiers around Avdiivka show a chaotic retreat
Ukrainian voices put the current losses into perspective and try to minimize the situation. Only six soldiers were captured, according to a Ukrainian commander, and Russia would not have been able to gain any significant strategic advantages by taking the city. Western voices and Ukrainian soldiers, on the other hand, oppose this representation. The withdrawal was not well planned and implemented, resulting in many falling into the hands of the Russian army. On Saturday (February 19), Tarnawsky wrote on Telegram that despite good planning of the withdrawal, “in the final phase of the operation, under pressure from superior enemy forces, some Ukrainian soldiers were captured.”
BBC interviews with Ukrainian soldiers on the Avdiivka front described the chaotic retreat from the embattled town. First-hand reports suggest a chaotic situation. Commanders who refused to retreat until Russian troops surrounded them. When the order to withdraw finally came, it was already too late for some soldiers.
The loss of Avdiivka as a turning point in the Ukrainian war?
When the Ukrainian army decided to retreat and abandon the city, Avdiivka was already surrounded on three sides. Only one street remained as an escape route from the city. Another problem with the retreat was poor communication. As the New York Times reports, some had already been informed of the withdrawal, while others were still resisting. The coming months will show whether the capture of Avdiivka really represents a turning point in the Ukrainian war, as the Russian side claims. (SiSch)