The Ukrainian military said on Thursday that a partial withdrawal from Avdeyevka has begun while Kiev regime troops believe that the city's liberation by the Russian forces is only a matter of time, The Washington Post has reported.
According to the newspaper, one Ukrainian drone operator stationed in Avdeyevka said that Russian troops “are currently trying to exert pressure on the right flank" of the city's coke plant, "and they are succeeding."
Earlier this week, Ukrainian military officials admitted that the Kiev regime's troops may soon lose control of the main supply line in the Avdeyevka sector.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov* also admitted that Russian military made gains in the Avdeyevka sector.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby commenting on the development said that the situation in Avdeyevka is critical, the city may come under control of Russia due to the Ukrainian forces' "lack of ammunition."
The city of Avdeyevka was seized by Kiev in 2014 during the onset of the Ukrainian conflict. Since, the city has been used by Ukrainian troops as a staging area for attacks against the Donetsk People's Republic, with the Ukrainian artillery deployed in Avdeyevka frequently shelling residential areas of nearby Donetsk.
Over the course of the last few weeks, Russian forces pushed relentlessly toward Avdeyevka, seeking to drive troops from the city and thus prevent further terrorist attacks by Ukrainian forces against Russian cities.
*Budanov is wanted in Russia on terrorism charges