Topix Underground

"...Troops are withdrawing from the besieged city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian armed forces said on Friday.

Col. Gen. Alexander Sirsky, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, said troops were withdrawing to “save the lives and health of soldiers” and to move to a more favorable position.


“Our soldiers fulfilled their military duty duly, did their best to destroy the best Russian military units, inflicted significant losses in manpower and equipment to the enemy,” Sirsky said in a statement. “We use measures to stabilize the situation and maintain occupied positions. The life of military is the highest value.”

Avdiivka has become a key battleground in the war in the past few months as Russian forces have assaulted the position as part of an overall strategy to take the rest of the Donetsk region in Ukraine.

The White House warned earlier this week that Russian forces were close to taking the city as Ukrainian soldiers struggle with limited reserves and depleting ammunition. The last of the U.S. military aid for Ukraine ran out at the end of last year, and Congress has yet to approve a new package.

A senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday that Ukraine faces challenges across the entire front from Russian offensives if more aid is not approved.

“We see this as something that could be the harbinger of what is to come if we do not get this supplemental funding,” the official said of Avdiivka..."