The Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on February 17, 2024 that Ukrainian forces were being withdrawn from Avdiivka city in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of the service personnel. Though the Ukrainian forces were unarmed and defeated by the Russian Army, they captured the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka in the country's eastern Donetsk region, which is an industrial city in Ukraine, located on the Kalmius river in Donetsk Oblast. With a population of over 30,000 people, Avdiivka is the most populous region of Ukraine. Russian forces could not use Donetsk and its resources as its communication hub because Donestsk was under the control of Ukraine. The capture of Avdiivka has been the largest territorial advance for Russia, for which Russia launched one of the bloodiest and fiercest battles. This is currently occupied by Russia as the capital of the Donestsk People’s Republic.
Significance of Avdiivka
Avdiivka, an industrial city, is one of the most fortified cities in Ukraine. It was known as the gateway to Donetsk. Donetsk city is prominent city of the region, whereas Avdiivka is the largest coke (coal-based fuel) producer in Ukraine, and has the Avdiivka Coke Plant. Before the war, the city had a population of 32,000 people.
During the war in Donbas, in 2017, when the Battle of Avdiivka was fought between Russia and Ukraine, the town had been devastated. However, Ukraine maintained the control of the city against the pro-Russian separatists of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Russia could not advance further into Ukraine as Avdiivka had been a major centre of resistance and is located on the frontlines in the east of Ukraine where Russia had staged a military intervention in 2014. Since then, Ukraine has seen war and, hence, has barricaded itself heavily.
Since October 10, 2023, Russian forces continuously attacked the north, west, and south of Avdiivka with armoured assault groups and helicopters. On November 10, 2023, geolocated footage showed that the Russian forces had entered eastern Stepove amid heavy Ukrainian resistance, and by December 21, 2023, Russian forces had consolidated their positions in most of the Avdiivka region.
In spite of being low on stocks of ammunitions, the Ukrainian army still kept fighting; however, repeated Russian onslaughts forced them to withdraw to Avdiivka’s Coke Plant. Thus, Russia claimed control of Avdiivka and its coke plant on February 17, 2024. Capturing Avdiivka would help Russia to capture more cities in Ukraine.
Shortage of Arms and Aid to Ukraine
The US House of Representatives has approved an aid package of US$ 60 billion for Ukraine after a long break. This aid was not released because the Republicans, in return, wanted stricter rules to keep immigrants out at the US-Mexico border. Some political hardliners in the US wanted the country to stop financing the war between Russia and Ukraine, and rather push Ukraine towards negotiations.
Impact on Europe
The capture of Avdiivka by the Russian forces has alerted the rest of Europe as European countries have not spent much on defence. European countries have been dependent on the US for security as there have not been much serious threat to them. Now, as Russia has been becoming increasingly powerful, and with an uncertain US security guarantee, many European countries are waking up to the need of allocating a larger portion of their GDP towards defence.
© Spectrum Books Pvt Ltd.
