Avdiivka on hostilities map: Frontline updates
Photo: Armed Forces left Avdiivka (Getty Image)
Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from Avdiivka. It is noted that they managed to avoid encirclement, and the defenders have retreated to prepared positions. Find out what's happening on the front line in the article below.
The material was prepared using sources from Facebook of the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Telegram channels of the commander of the Tavria direction, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the Third Separate Assault Brigade, DeepState, and the report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Troop withdrawal
During the night, General Syrskyi announced that the command had made the decision to withdraw from Avdiivka to preserve the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. The defenders are transitioning to a defensive stance at more advantageous positions.
Brigadier General Tarnavskyi described this decision as the only correct one given the constant enemy advancement and the ten-to-one advantage in artillery. According to him, encirclement has been avoided, and Ukrainian soldiers have taken up defensive positions at designated lines.
In turn, the press service of the Third Assault Brigade confirmed that the fighters are retreating to prepared positions.
Battlefield map
On the DeepState service map, Avdiivka appears semi-encircled. Russian occupying forces are assaulting the city from multiple directions simultaneously, as well as attacking neighboring settlements. However, as both military sources and the map indicate, the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to avoid encirclement in Avdiivka.
screenshot of deepstatemap.live
On the maps of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Avdiivka does not yet appear fully occupied by Russian forces. However, analysts note that Russians have advanced further to the south on the western outskirts and to the south of the coke-chemical plant, achieved minor gains in the suburban areas to the northeast, and seized the city park in the center.
Map of the Institute for the Study of War
Map of the Institute for the Study of War
However, ISW believes that Ukrainian forces will likely need to launch counterattacks to facilitate an organized withdrawal from Avdiivka.
Analysts note that Russians may suffer significant losses if they decide to attack the new Ukrainian positions head-on in the open field due to the large concentration of Ukrainian troops in the new positions.
Battles for Avdiivka
Occupying forces have been attempting to "take" Avdiivka since the fall of 2023. In February, the situation on this front became critical. Fighters from the Third Assault Brigade were redeployed to the Avdiivka area to reinforce Ukrainian defenses.
Defenders reported heavy fighting, with occupiers using phosphorus shells and tanker trucks burning at the coke-chemical plant.
As known, Ukrainian forces decided to withdraw from Avdiivka amid constant enemy attacks and overwhelming enemy strength.
