Quote Message: In order to preserve life and encirclement, I have withdrawn our units from Avdiivka.” from Ukraine’s armed forces chief
In order to preserve life and encirclement, I have withdrawn our units from Avdiivka.”
When he was appointed this month, Ukraine’s new head of the armed forces, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, said he would “rather retreat than sacrifice lives”, and that is what he has finally done with this eastern city.
Despite Russians suffering enormous losses, four months of relentless attacks have left Ukrainian troops there outnumbered, outgunned, and with dwindling ammunition.
It is Moscow’s biggest victory since Ukraine’s failed counter-offensive last year.
Stuttering Western help has directly contributed to this Ukrainian retreat in Avdiivka.
The US leads the way in providing weapons to Ukraine because of the scale and speed it can provide them.
With a $95bn package including aid for Ukraine still not approved in Washington, other allies are struggling to fill the gap.
It means the Ukrainians are having to ration ammunition and manage low morale.
And Avdiivka may not be the only withdrawal Kyiv is considering.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also still wants the whole of Ukraine, and it is still possible that he could take it.
That prospect could either restore Western unity in trying to prevent it, or fuel the scepticism that Ukraine was never able to win this war, despite the extraordinary defence it has displayed in Avdiivka and elsewhere.