Most troops have left Avdiivka, no large-scale capture of Ukrainian soldiers – 3rd Separate Assault Brigade – video
Most of the Ukrainian troops had left Avdiivka as of Saturday evening, and the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade has no reports of large numbers of their soldiers being taken prisoner.
Source: Oleksandr Borodin, press officer of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the Ukrainska Pravda project UP.Summary; 3rd Separate Assault Brigade on Telegram
Quote: "We have now retreated to our prepared positions... Most of the troops have already left, but this is a lengthy process. It is important to understand that such operations are very complex, sometimes more complex than assault operations... The lion's share of the process is done, but some elements still remain.
I do not know of any people who are encircled. There are just a few more steps that need to be taken, but the logistics are working, everything is fine."
Details: Borodin noted that his brigade had withdrawn to the positions that had been "prepared in terms of fortifications".
He has no reports of Ukrainian soldiers being captured on a large scale. However, Borodin noted that it is too early to draw conclusions yet, as the process of the Defence Forces' withdrawal from Avdiivka is not yet complete.
Quote: "It's hard to say whether everyone [has left Avdiivka] – we are not the only ones there. There has been no systemic or unit-level capture as far as my brigade is concerned."
More details: The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade noted on Telegram that right up until their withdrawal, the brigade's soldiers had prevented the Russians from completely encircling their positions.
"The brigade has withdrawn to prepared positions on the outskirts of Avdiivka and levelled the front line. At the moment, the Russians are not slowing down their offensive. We continue to hold the line on the Avdiivka front," the post says.
It is noted that the brigade had inflicted significant losses on the key offensive group of the Russian army since it was relocated to Avdiivka. About 1,500 Russians were killed, over 3,500 were wounded, and more than 20 armoured vehicles were destroyed.
Background: On the night of 16-17 February, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, announced the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Avdiivka.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia's losses in Avdiivka were seven times higher than Ukraine's.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces (OSGF), reported that Ukraine will be appealing to international humanitarian organisations and intermediary countries regarding the "certain number" of Ukrainian soldiers captured in Avdiivka.
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