The Russian army has lost almost 50,000 soldiers and over 1,300 units of military equipment during the active phase of fighting for Avdiivka since 10 October 2023, the commander of the operational and strategic grouping of troops “Tavria,” Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said on 18 February.
On the evening of 17 February, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka after holding the strong position since the Russian-renewed assault on the city in October 2023.
“The Ukrainian defenders inflicted huge losses on the Russian military and destroyed a significant reserve of the Russian occupying forces, which they had planned to use in other areas of the front for offensive actions,” Tarnavskyi wrote.
According to Tarnavskyi, from 10 October 2023 to 17 February 2024, the losses of the Russian troops in the Avdiivka direction amounted to:
- 47,186 personnel;
- 364 tanks;
- 248 artillery systems;
- 748 armored fighting vehicles;
- five aircraft.
Tarnavskyi said, “the feat of the Avdiivka defenders will forever remain in the memory of generations.” He said the stubborn defense of this area allowed Ukraine “to gain time and accumulate strength for the liberation of the occupied territories.”
