Ukraine’s military said it had withdrawn outnumbered troops from the southeastern part of the city of Avdiivka amid escalating battle.
The decision provided no strategic advantage for Russia, it added.
Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s southeastern sector, said on Telegram that Ukrainian units pulled back with minor losses.
“In a difficult battlefield situation, when only ruins and a pile of broken bricks remain from the fortification, our priority is to save the soldiers’ lives,” he said.
Tarnavskyi once again described the Avdiivka sector as “the hottest” on the entire front line of about 1,000 kilometres.
“The enemy launches massive bomb attacks day and night,
