- Putin celebrates military victory
- Zelenskyy seeks more weapons
- Avdiivka captured, resistance continues
As Vladimir Putin congratulated the troops, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with the West to send more armaments during a security conference in Germany.
After months of intense combat, Russian forces have seized complete control of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, according to the defence ministry.
President Vladimir Putin lauded the progress, designating it a “significant victory” and a “success” for the forces, mere days before the second anniversary of its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, informed the Kremlin that efforts were underway to eliminate the last vestiges of resistance. Concurrently, the military chief of Ukraine declared the withdrawal of outnumbered personnel from the city.
It follows Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pleading with the West to increase military aid and his suggestion that a scarcity of weapons contributed to the withdrawal.
“At this time, [the military] will restock; they will await the arrival of the necessary weapons, of which there are simply not enough, there are not enough,” he told the Munich Security Conference.
We lack sufficient long-range armaments in comparison to Russia’s arsenal.
Subsequently, he conveyed optimism that the United States Congress would exercise prudence and approve the resupply plan for Ukrainian forces, an endeavour that has encountered staunch opposition from the Republican Party.
Mr Zelenskyy penned on X, “We hope the House of Representatives will make decisions that will ensure Ukraine receives additional, vital U.S. support.”
It is vital that we prevail in this conflict.
The withdrawal from Avdiivka was attributed by the White House to “dwindling supplies due to congressional inaction,” which compelled Ukrainian troops to ration ammunition and led to “Russia’s first significant gains in months.”
Later, during a telephone conversation with Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Biden reaffirmed the United States’ dedication to providing assistance to Ukraine.
Russia’s largest advance since capturing Bakhmut last May is the conquest of the southern city, which could be decisive in bringing the country one step closer to securing complete control of the two provinces comprising the industrial Donbas region.
Mr Putin lauded the fallen soldiers who had been slain in the campaign via telegram, stating, “Eternal glory to the valiant heroes who perished in carrying out the missions of the special military operation!”
Each day, the Russians dropped sixty explosives.
Since October of last year, Russian forces have been attempting to advance on the town and have surrounded it on three sides, leaving the Ukrainian soldiers stationed there with limited resupply routes.
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Rodion Kudriashov, deputy commander of the Third Assault Brigade, provided an update on the situation on the ground in recent days, stating that Russian warplanes had been dropping approximately sixty bombs per day, shelling the area ceaselessly, and initiating infantry and armour assaults.
Approximately 30,000 individuals formerly inhabited the city, now estimated to have a population of slightly more than 1,000. It sits to the north of Donetsk.
The area once housed a sizable industrial facility that manufactured chemicals and coke, a fuel derived from coal. However, its proprietors claim that the fighting has substantially damaged the plant.
The Russians struggled with the invasion, and footage shows 150 dead, most of them in Russian uniforms, placed along tree lines where they sought cover.
