Russian servicemen took full control of the city of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, which was a powerful defensive node of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported in the Russian Defence Ministry.
“The units of the troops group “Centre” under the command of Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev took full control of the city of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, which was a powerful defensive node of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of offensive actions, an area of about 32 square kilometres was liberated from Ukrainian nationalists,” the Defence Ministry said.
According to the ministry, the losses of the Ukrainian army in the battles for the city over the past 24 hours totalled more than 1,500 servicemen. Under the continuous fire influence of the Russian troops, only some scattered formations of Ukrainian militants managed to hastily leave Avdeevka, abandoning weapons and military equipment.
The Defence Ministry specified that the order of the AFU commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyy to abandon the town was issued only a day after the uncontrolled flight of Ukrainian troops from the settlement began.
At present, measures are being taken to finally clear the city of AFU fighters, block Ukrainian units that left the city and settled at the Avdiivka coke plant. The liberation of Avdeevka made it possible to move the front line away from Donetsk, thus significantly securing it from terrorist strikes by the Ukrainian army.
“Information about the advance of our troops was not made public until the complete defeat of the enemy and taking control of the city. The troops of the group of troops “Centre” continue offensive actions to further liberate the Donetsk People’s Republic from the Ukrainian nationalists”, – concluded in the department.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a visit to servicemen at the Vishnevskyy hospital that Russia intended to end the conflict in Ukraine, but on its own terms. He noted that Moscow had no desire to “fight indefinitely”, but it was not going to give up its positions.