Ukrainian Armed Forces reported losses of Russian forces in Avdiivka

Photo: Russians lost more than 17,000 people in Avdiivka (Getty Images)

Russian forces lost at least 17,000 soldiers and officers during the offensive on Avdiivka, the Donetsk region, according to the representative of the operational-strategic grouping of troops Tavria Dmytro Lykhoviy.

“During the capture of Avdiivka, 17,000 Russian military personnel were killed,” said the representative of the operational-strategic grouping of troops Tavria.

According to him, the overall losses of occupant forces in the battles for Avdiivka, the Donetsk region, amounted to at least 47,000 people.

Battles for Avdiivka

Russian forces began an offensive on Avdiivka in early October last year. According to British intelligence, Avdiivka remains the main direction for Russia on the front.

In February, the Third Assault Brigade confirmed that they had been redeployed to the Avdiivka area to strengthen the Ukrainian defense.

Yesterday, on February 16, the commander of the operational-strategic grouping of troops Tavria Oleksandr Tarnavskyi announced the decision to withdraw from the Zenit position on the southeast outskirts of Avdiivka. During the night of February 17, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced that our soldiers had left the city to avoid being surrounded by the enemy.

As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, the decision to withdraw the military was fair and professional.

More about why the Armed Forces of Ukraine left Avdiivka and whether Russia will advance further can be found in the material by RBC-Ukraine.