The Russian Ministry of Defense released footage showing what it described as Ukrainian Armed Forces units retreating from Avdeevka while being subjected to sustained fire from Russian forces. In the clip, forces are depicted withdrawing from their positions as artillery and missile systems engage the area, with some soldiers abandoning gear in the process.
According to the ministry, the intensity of enemy fire constrained Ukrainian units to break off organized resistance, leaving scattered formations to disengage from Avdiivka under pressure. The report emphasizes that only isolated groups managed to withdraw their positions in haste, abandoning weapons and equipment as the combat dynamics intensified.
Earlier reporting noted that Russian troops were present in the area during what was described as the operation to consolidate control over Avdiivka, with estimates suggesting a notable advance by Russian forces on February 17. Official briefings indicate that a central group of troops extended their control over the surrounding area, with figures cited for territorial gains and losses tied to the clashes. The ministry asserted that Ukrainian forces sustained casualties and reported a significant reduction in manpower as a consequence of the fighting.
On February 17, a message from the defense leadership highlighted the progress of operations in Avdiivka and reiterated the claim that the settlement was brought under the control of Russian-aligned defense units. The briefings also mentioned that some dispersed Ukrainian units managed to withdraw, leaving behind equipment as part of the withdrawal across the contested zone.
Subsequent Kremlin disclosures outlined the stated objectives of the Avdiivka operation and provided a narrative of how control over the area was being established. The updates depicted Avdiivka as a focal point in a broader sequence of engagements, with claims of Russian forces consolidating possession of strategic positions and Ukrainian forces reconfiguring their deployments in response to the evolving situation.