Chinese military blogger Zhu Haozheng arrived in Avdeyevka, becoming one of the first foreign journalists to assess the situation on the front line with his own eyes after the town's liberation from Ukrainian forces.
"Russian forces are currently in full control of the city. They are also providing security in the city. Moreover, the command reported that the Ukrainian troops offered less resistance during their retreat than before," he shared.
Last week, Russian forces entered the heart of the hardened, heavily fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka, with the Defense Ministry announcing on Sunday that Russian troops had advanced more than 8.5 km deep into Ukrainian positions behind the front line. The total area cleared after fierce fighting was 31.75 square kilometers, with Ukraine losing more than 1,500 soldiers.