Ukraine’s military said it had withdrawn outnumbered troops from the southeastern part of the city of Avdiivka amid escalating battles, adding that the decision provided no strategic advantage for Russia.
Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s southeastern sector, said on Telegram 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 km (600 miles).
“The enemy launches massive bomb attacks day and night, and does not stop attacking simultaneously from several directions,” he said.
Later on Friday, Tarnavskyi said that heavy fighting continues and Russia keeps “practically wiping the city from the face of the earth”. He also claimed that on Friday alone Ukrainian forces have repelled more than 30 Russian attacks and the defensive operation continues.
“Ukrainian soldiers are manoeuvring out of destroyed positions and entrenching themselves on new lines of defence,” Tarnavskyi said.
A video from Avdiivka, shared by Ukraine’s Third Separate Assault Brigade on Friday, shows soldiers taking cover from heavy Russian shelling in the dim dungeons of a large local coking plant, warming themselves and helping the wounded.
Another video shows state border guard soldiers showing their positions in a badly damaged building, calling the current situation an all-round defence.
It was not immediately possible for Reuters to confirm battleground reports.