Capture of Avdiivka is Russia's greatest gain in 9 months of war - Zelenskyy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
For the Russian Federation, the capture of Avdiivka is the greatest gain in nine months of the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells in an interview with FOX News' Bret Baier.
As the President notes, over the two years of war, Ukrainian soldiers:
- liberated Kharkiv region;
- unblocked the Black Sea, which allowed the return of grain routes;
- destroyed many ships of the Russian fleet.
"That we did during two years. Yeah, the last year was mostly complicated for us but… what been done, I think it was good job," Zelensky adds.
He notes that the only achievement and conquest of the terrorist country over the past nine months is Avdiivka. At the same time, the President refuses to consider the lack of progress on the part of Russia a sign of a "new page" in the war.
Fighting for Avdiivka
The Russian army launched an offensive on Avdiivka in early October. In February, the Third Assault Brigade announced that its troops had been redeployed to the city to strengthen the Ukrainian defense. The defenders showed footage from Avdiivka and noted that the fighting in this area was heavier than in Bakhmut.
On February 16, the commander of the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, announced the decision to withdraw from the Zenit position on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka. Later, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Ukrainian soldiers had left the city to avoid being surrounded by the enemy.
As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, the decision to withdraw was fair and professional.
According to Tarnavskyi, over the 4 months of the active phase of the Avdiivka defense operation, Russian losses amounted to more than 47,000 soldiers.
