During the retreat of Ukrainian forces from Avdiyivka, 25 servicemen were captured by Russia, said the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyy. In an interview with Ukrinform, he also spoke about the reasons for the decision to withdraw from the town.
In Avdiyivka, the enemy had a significant advantage in terms of attack aircraft. Constant enemy bombardment with guided aerial bombs disrupted Ukrainian defences, allowing the Russians to gradually advance.
"Insufficient ammunition for our artillery also played a negative role. "This made it impossible to conduct effective counter-battery combat in such conditions. "So, to avoid encirclement and save people's lives, I decided to withdraw from Avdiyivka," he said.
The Chief of Defence added that Russian propagandists are trying to use various videos of captured Ukrainian soldiers to discredit the Ukrainian Defence Forces, exert psychological pressure and spread panic among Ukrainians.
"I would like to say to these soldiers, if they hear me, and to their families: we have not forgotten anyone and are doing everything to free these servicemen from Russian captivity. Both the leadership of our state and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Armed Forces Command are fully involved in these efforts," he said.