As the war with Ukraine prepares to enter its third year, Russia makes its biggest gain since taking Bakhmut in May.
After Ukraine retreated, Russia claims complete control of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka. It also notes that some Ukrainian troops are still holed up in a sizable coke plant from the Soviet era that was the scene of one of the war’s most fierce engagements.
Nearly two years to the day that President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has achieved its greatest victory since taking Bakhmut in May 2023 with the collapse of Avdiivka.
On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that after a terrible urban combat that left the town an almost entirely deserted wreck, Russian troops had advanced 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in that section of the 1,000 km (621 mile) front line.
Putin applauded the Russian soldiers and hailed the fall of Avdiivka as a significant achievement.
The Kremlin sent a statement on its website stating, “The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory.”
On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that after a terrible urban combat that left the town an almost entirely deserted wreck, Russian troops had advanced 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in that section of the 1,000 km (621 mile) front line.
Putin applauded the Russian soldiers and hailed the fall of Avdiivka as a significant achievement.
The Kremlin sent a statement on its website stating, “The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory.”
After months of intense warfare, Ukraine claimed to have withdrew its soldiers to prevent its forces from being completely besieged. As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy names a new commander to lead the conflict, and as Kyiv considers a significant new mobilization, Moscow has been attempting to wear down Ukrainian forces.
The Soviet-era coke plant in Avdiivka, which was previously among the largest in Europe, is crucial to Russia’s goal of gaining complete control over the industrial Donbas region. However, Russia claimed that some Ukrainian forces were still holed up there.
Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Igor Konashenkov stated, “Measures are being taken to completely clear the town of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the town and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant.”
Russian official television displayed the raising of Russia’s tricolor flag, which consists of white, blue, and red, including over the coke plant, and the removal of blue and yellow Ukrainian flags from Avdiivka. Authorities in Ukraine have not yet made any public remarks about this.
After eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies, Putin dispatched tens of thousands of troops into the country in February 2022, sparking a full-scale battle.
Avdiivka, or Avdeyevka as the Russians call it, has seen ten years of fighting. It is especially symbolic for Russia since, in 2014, separatists backed by Moscow briefly occupied it and took control of a large portion of eastern Ukraine. However, Ukrainian troops retook the area and fortified it extensively.
For Moscow to achieve complete control over the industrial Donbas region, dominance over the city was essential. The loss of Avdiivka is a serious setback for Ukraine, which has been struggling to repel Russian forces due to a severe lack of ammunition and men.
Russia’s morale will probably be boosted by the capture of Avdiivka before Putin’s practically guaranteed reelection run next month.
It is also viewed as an additional move to strengthen Moscow’s control over the Donetsk regional center, which is occupied by Russian and pro-Russian forces since 2014. Donetsk is located around 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) to the east.
