How did the Ukrainian military withdraw from Avdiivka and what is russia lying about?
When leaving Avdeevka, some Ukrainian military personnel were indeed captured, and russia is taking advantage of this to launch an information attack. Find out what fakes the occupiers are sowing and how the Western media support russian narratives
The operation to withdraw the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Avdiivka was extremely difficult, as russian troops virtually closed a ring around the city. However, not all Ukrainian soldiers managed to retreat to pre-prepared positions, and some of them were captured. Meanwhile, Western media outlets are spreading russian narratives, discussing the withdrawal of the Defence Forces from the city, and russia itself is taking this opportunity to spread fake information about the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Here's what it's all about.
The New York Times, citing alleged assessments by military and Western officials, writes that up to a thousand Ukrainian soldiers could have been captured by russia during the Ukrainian Armed Forces' retreat from Avdiivka.
The article states that the russians captured between 850 and 1,000 soldiers. However, some of them are attributed to missing persons.
"Two soldiers with knowledge of Ukraine's retreat estimated that between 850 and 1,000 soldiers appear to have been captured or are missing. Western officials said that range seemed accurate", the NYT wrote.
What does the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces say?
According to Dmytro Lykhoviy, a spokesman for the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, in a commentary to BBC Ukraine, the information about a thousand prisoners is "russian narratives".
He confirmed that a certain number of soldiers were taken prisoner during the retreat from Avdiivka, but it was not hundreds of soldiers.
"So far, we are operating with the concept of 'a certain number did not get in touch'. Because over time, some soldiers who were initially considered missing get in touch with our side; they are in hospitals or join their units", said the Tavria spokesman.
Likhovyi also stressed that the US publication's report is part of the "information aggression" that russia is using against Ukraine along with bombs and shells.
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russia is lying as usual
After the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka, russian propagandists immediately launched an information attack, claiming that Ukrainian soldiers fled "the city and surrendered".
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), russian sources described the Ukrainian withdrawal as disorganised and costly in terms of casualties. They also claimed that russian troops managed to surround large Ukrainian groups in Avdiivka.
"However, ISW has not found any evidence to support these russian claims", the analysts said.
They also responded to the statements of russian "military commanders" that Ukrainian forces allegedly suffered heavy losses in Avdiivka due to a "disorderly withdrawal". According to ISW, the footage disseminated by russian propagandists does not coincide with the claims of Ukrainian losses and the capture of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The heroic operation to withdraw from Avdiivka
Rodion Kudryashov, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, told BBC Ukraine that Ukrainian troops did not allow the russians to close the ring around the city, and the Defence Forces managed to leave the city without losing combat capability and command and control.
"Therefore, successful actions in Avdiivka, successful actions to cover other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are an unprecedented heroism of soldiers, sergeants and officers", he said.
We remind you! The full-scale russian invasion has been going on for two years now, and russia still believes that the only precondition for negotiations is Ukraine's surrender. But Ukraine has made it equally clear that it will continue to resist. What will happen next and what analysts are predicting is described here.
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