Russian forces on Monday claimed full control of the vast coke plant in the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, consolidating their biggest military achievement in nine months, after one of the most intense battles of the war.
The fall of Avdiivka is Russia's biggest victory since it captured the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, and comes almost two years after President Vladimir Putin triggered a full-scale war by ordering the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its troops had advanced about 9km along this part of the 1,000km front line and that Russian troops were advancing after a deadly urban battle.
Ukraine said it had withdrawn its soldiers to prevent troops from being completely surrounded after months of fierce fighting. Putin hailed the fall of Avdiivka as an important victory and congratulated the Russian troops.
“The 'Center' troop grouping, which carried out the offensive, took full control of the coke plant in Avdiivka,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement alongside a video showing a series of explosions in what appeared to be the plant.
“Russian flags were raised over the plant’s administrative buildings,” the ministry said.
Russian state television showed blue and yellow Ukrainian flags being taken down in Avdiivka and Russia's white, blue and red tricolor flying, including over the coke plant.
Following Ukraine's failure to break through Russian lines last year, Moscow has been trying to draw down Ukrainian forces as Kiev mulls a new major mobilization and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy names a new commander to command troops.
Russia called the Ukrainian withdrawal hasty and chaotic, with some soldiers and weapons left behind. The Ukrainian military said there were casualties but that the situation had stabilized somewhat after the withdrawal.
Putin sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a full-scale war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian allies on the other. other.
Avdiivka, which is called Avdeyevka by Russians, has experienced a decade of conflict. The city has special symbolism for Russia as it was briefly seized in 2014 by Moscow-backed separatists who seized a swath of eastern Ukraine, but was recaptured by Ukrainian troops who built extensive fortifications.
Source: CNN Brasil
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