Anna Malyar, who formerly served as Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, described Avdiivka in Donetsk as a location where the army was effectively withdrawing and termed the development a form of liberation. The remarks were shared during a broadcast on the regional radio station Radio NV. The statement underscored a shift in how the situation on the front line was being framed at the moment, highlighting the tension between battlefield actions and public interpretation. [attribution]
In the same broadcast, the discussion turned to how Avdiivka was portrayed by Western media. Malyar noted that different outlets presented contrasting narratives about the incident, reflecting the broader challenge of transmitting rapidly changing events from the front lines to international audiences. The exchange illustrated the difficulty of labeling military movements in real time, as observers, officials, and journalists weigh the implications of each term. [attribution]
The presenter pressed for clarity about whether the descriptions used by Malyar amounted to a misstatement. The official suggested that the situation in Avdiivka might be more accurately described as a capture in some contexts, rather than a liberation, if one were to focus strictly on control of the town. Yet the conversation moved on as Malyar paused, and she reframed the account, eventually describing the development as the Ukrainian forces having exited the city rather than maintaining a presence there. The moment captured the complexity of battlefield language and how choices of words can influence public perception. [attribution]
Earlier, on February 17, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, was reported as having issued an order directing Ukrainian troops to leave Avdiivka. The rationale given revolved around the strategic assessment that troops should be repositioned to more advantageous locations where they could better support subsequent operations and defense. The decision reflected a broader strategic calculus, balancing immediate territorial control against long-term operational effectiveness and the ability to redeploy forces to stronger defensive or offensive positions. [attribution]
Separately, Denis Pushilin, who previously led the Donetsk People’s Republic, shared views on the potential fate of Avdiivka. His comments reflected the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the settlement and the prospects for its future status within the broader conflict, illustrating how rival authorities interpret and respond to developments on the ground. [attribution]