Ukrainian Armed Forces abandon two more villages near Avdiivka
27 February 2024 21:35
Ukrainian troops have left two more villages near Avdiivka. These are Severne and Stepove. This was stated by the spokesman for the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, Dmytro Lykhoviy, during a telethon, Kommersant Ukrainsky reports 
“In the Avdiivka sector, our units have withdrawn from the small villages of Severne and Stepove,”
– lykhoviy said.
According to him, the number of residents in these settlements before the war was up to 100 people. The fighting for the village of Severne lasted from yesterday evening and throughout the night. The enemy suffered significant losses in this region.
He also noted that if earlier the enemy tried to attack in small groups, now these attacking groups are larger – from platoon to company.
Earlier it was reported that the defence forces decided to withdraw from the Zenit position on the outskirts of Avdiivka.
Ukrainian troops also retreated from the village of Lastochkino in Donetsk region, 6 km from Avdiivka. This manoeuvre was important for organising defence on the line of Orlivka, Tonenke and Berdychi to stop the enemy from advancing further west.
The battle for Avdiivka
russian troops intensified their offensive on Avdiivka in October 2023, simultaneously with massive strikes on the city.
on 8 February, Dmitry Lykhovoy, a representative of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, said that fighting was continuing in Avdiivka within the city’s urban area.
on 14 February, the Donetsk Regional State Administration stated that the road to Avdiivka was completely shelled. According to Lykhoviy, if Russia cuts off the main logistics artery to Avdiivka, there are backup routes.
The next day, soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade confirmed that they had been urgently redeployed to the Avdiivka area of Donetsk region to reinforce Ukrainian troops.
on 16 February, the commander of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that Ukrainian units were continuing the heroic defence of Avdiivka, but had to abandon one of their positions on the southern outskirts of the city.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said that on the night of Saturday, 17 February, the Ukrainian Armed Forces left their positions and withdrew from Avdiivka to prevent encirclement.
The bloody battle for the city lasted five months. As of 15 February, the ratio of forces in the Avdiivka area was one to seven in favour of the Russians. the Russian Federation has concentrated elite military brigades and GRU specialists in the area.
