Avdiivka: Ukraine troops leave embattled eastern town - BBC News

President Volodymyr Zelensky says the decision was taken to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

5 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, RL/SERHII NUZHNENKO/ReutersImage caption, Avdiivka has been almost completely destroyed during months of fierce fightingBy Jaroslav LukivBBC NewsUkraine says its troops have withdrawn from Avdiivka - a key eastern town besieged by Russian forces for months.

The decision was taken in order to save the soldiers' lives, said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Almost all of Avdiivka's pre-war population of more than 30,000 people have left and the city itself is almost completely destroyed.

Its fall marks Russia's biggest win for months and Mr Zelensky blamed faltering Western weapons supplies.

Ukraine has been experiencing shortages in ammunition, mainly as a result of political squabbling in the US, its main supplier.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68323366

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