Vladimir Putin
Russia declared Saturday that it has taken full control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, hours after Kyiv said that it had evacuated the former stronghold to protect soldiers’ lives.
According to a statement issued by the Russian Defence Ministry, Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin of the advance.
“Putin congratulated our military and fighters on such an important victory”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked.
Faced with ammunition shortages and overwhelmed on the battlefield, Ukrainian soldiers declared their withdrawal in the early hours of Saturday.
It came after months of pressure when Russian forces intensified their efforts to seize the eastern industrial hub in October, destroying the city and killing thousands.
The liberation of Avdiivka is Russia’s most significant win in the battle since May.
Earlier Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a security conference in Munich that “saving our people is the most important task for us”.
Zelensky went on to say, “To avoid being surrounded, it was decided to withdraw to other lines”.
“This does not mean that people retreated some kilometres and Russia captured something”, Zelensky continued.
“It did not capture anything”, Zelensky added.
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