Russian forces after the occupation of Abdiyevka, Ukraine,/Telegram
Ukrainian forces withdrew today (Saturday) from the city of Abdiyevka in the eastern part of the country, paving the way for Russia's biggest advance since it captured the city in Hamut last May.
The withdrawal was announced by the new army commander, General Alexander Sirsky, who was only appointed to the post at the beginning of the month as part of a man exchange conducted by President Volodymyr Zelensky in the leadership of the army.
It took place against the background of a serious shortage of ammunition that the Ukrainian army is suffering from, in light of the delay in American military aid that has been stuck for months in Congress.
The army commander said that his forces withdrew to safer positions outside the ruined city, which had a population of 32,000 on the eve of the war.
"I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to the defense from more favorable lines to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of the soldiers," the statement of the armed forces said.
Russian forces after the occupation of Abdiyevka, Ukraine, February 17, 2024/screenshot, Telegram
The fall of Abdiyevka is another development that indicates the change of momentum in the war, just days before the second anniversary of its beginning.
The Ukrainian counter-offensive last summer, which was launched with great fanfare, failed in its efforts to break through the Russian fortifications on the front and since then Kiev's forces have gone on the defensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech at the Munich Security Forum that his forces managed to "exhaust" the Russian forces in the city.
He said that he agrees with the decision to withdraw from it to save the lives of the soldiers, while urging his allies in the West to increase military aid to his army.
He hinted that the withdrawal was partly related to a lack of weapons.
"Now (the army) will refresh its ranks, and wait for the relevant weapons, which it did not have enough of," said Zelensky.
"Russia has long-range weapons, while we simply don't have enough."
More on the same topic:
Ukraine
Russia
The war in Ukraine