Ukrainian soldiers surrendered the city of Avdiivka which represents a change in the front line. According to reports, the ukrainian commander in chief said he ordered a retreat to avoid encirclement. Reportedly, ukkrainian soldiers who withdrew describe unresponsive commanders; by the time the order came to retreat they were completely surrounded. According to the report, following advancement into Avdiivka russian military bloggers posted a video showing three dead ukrainian soldiers.
Reportedly, for weeks fighters at a base named zenith on the outskirts of Avdiivka were trying to hold their positions. According to the report, fearing encirclement they asked their commander to pull them out but they were told to wait. Reportedly, on February 13 defenders at zenith were told to retreat to a new position. According to the report, Ivan Zhyntyk, one of the soldiers in the video messaged his brother in law. “We were told to retreat and fight our way back but behind us are russians. I don’t know what to do.”
Reportedly, Ivan and nine other men were ordered to attack russian positions and open up a safe passage for the others but the group was forced to turn back, only three managed to return to base. According to the report, Ivan was injured and fell in a field before returning to base, they tried to carry him out on a stretcher but five were wounded and they had to go back to zenith. They had to leave the wounded behind.
Reportedly, sending a rescue team was too risky and many didn’t survive. According to the report, six people were left behind at zenith, three were in the video, their relatives say they must have been executed by russian soldiers.
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