Tavria grouping warns of ‘mopping-up’ operations as Russian forces secure grip on seized Avdiivka
The Russian military is conducting a "mopping-up operation" in Avdiivka, Dmytro Lykhoviy, spokesman for the Tavria Operational and Strategic Troop Grouping, said on national television on Feb. 19.
"Russians are now regrouping after achieving tactical goals in the Avdiivka sector," he said.
“Unfortunately, they are conducting a ‘mopping-up’ in Avdiivka. This is a town, a significant territorial unit.”
Read also: Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade units surrounded in Avdiivka, managed to escape
Commenting on the situation in the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic troop grouping, Lykhoviy said that the enemy is "licking its wounds".
"It is trying to conduct certain offensive actions in somewhat different directions, except for Avdiivka, where the number of attacks has decreased," he stated.
Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Feb. 17 that the Ukrainian army had withdrawn from Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, after four months of intense fighting and regular attacks by the Russian troops. This decision was made to avoid encirclement and to save the lives and health of the soldiers.
Read also: Battles for besieged Avdiivka ‘many times more hellish’ than Bakhmut, 3rd Assault Brigade says
The commander of the Tavria troop grouping, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that "a number" of Ukrainian soldiers were captured during the withdrawal from Avdiivka.
Dmytro Lykhoviy, head of the public relations department of the Tavria grouping, said that the withdrawal of troops from Avdiivka was as successful as the circumstances allowed.
The DeepState analytical portal reported that the Russian military shot six captured Ukrainian soldiers at the Museum position (formerly Zenit military unit) in Avdiivka, who remained there after the Ukrainian army retreated from the town. Four of them were wounded and unable to walk.
A video was shared on Russian social media showing the shot bodies lying on the premises of Garage No. 1. Analysts complain that a series of mistakes and delays in taking decisive action led to this tragedy.
In the video with the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, relatives recognized three wounded who remained at the Zenit position near Avdiivka, investigative outlet Slidstvo.info reported.
Journalist Yuriy Butusov posted on his Facebook page "a list of six seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers of the 110th Mechanized Brigade who were left behind during the breakthrough from the Zenit stronghold near Avdiivka on Feb. 14." Pavlov, Dubnytskyi, Baranovskyi, Savosik, Zhytnik, Zinchuk (spelling of the names has been preserved - ed.).
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
