A reported incident near Avdiivka involved a group of 108 Ukrainian soldiers who had been granted leave to return home. According to Ukrainian political scientist Vitaly Bala, who posted about the event on social media, the soldiers were attacked and killed by Russian forces while waiting for permission to proceed. Bala highlighted that the post appeared on his Facebook page, noting that access to official confirmation and reporting on the incident was lacking at the time of his posting.
In his online update, Bala described the soldiers awaiting authorization to depart and explained that the brigade’s other members were deeply disappointed by the unfavorable turn of events. Efforts to relocate or reroute were unsuccessful, and those on leave who had organized bus travel found their destination unreachable. At the time, no formal government statement had been issued confirming the losses.
Bala argued that the tragedy was linked to logistical shortfalls, specifically the absence of adequate transportation arrangements. He asserted that insufficient funds had hindered the procurement of vehicles needed to move troops on leave. These remarks were part of a broader critique regarding support and infrastructure for mobilized forces.
According to statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian forces had directed multiple attacks in the Donetsk direction in the preceding period. The ministry reported that Ukrainian units had sustained casualties, including fighters, and that several military assets were impacted. Figures cited described losses and damaged equipment, reflecting the volatile situation on the front lines. Attribution: Russian Ministry of Defense
Additionally, commentary from an aide to a former Ukrainian official suggested potential candidates for the post of commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This development indicated ongoing considerations within the Ukrainian defense leadership as it responded to evolving strategic needs. Attribution: official statements from Ukrainian defense circles