Ukrainian Commander Promises to Take Control Back Following Russian Advancements in Donetsk
Moscow claims to have destroyed a third U.S.-supplied Abrams tank near the Russian-held town of Avdiivka.
A top Ukrainian military commander has promised to resume offensive actions against Russian forces after recent battlefield losses in the eastern Donetsk region.
Gen. Oleksandr Pavliuk, Ukraine’s new ground forces commander, stated, “We will stabilize the situation shortly,” in televised remarks.
Gen. Pavliuk, formerly a deputy defense minister, took over as ground forces commander last month, replacing Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi. This appointment was part of a significant military reshuffle that also saw Gen. Syrskyi becoming Ukraine’s top military commander, replacing Gen. Valery Zaluzhny.
Gen. Pavliuk announced that Ukraine’s reorganized military will strive to prepare troops for more active actions and to take the initiative.
Following Russian battlefield successes, notably the capture of Avdiivka last month, Kyiv has framed the loss as a strategic withdrawal to better positions west of the town, while Moscow claims it was a full-on rout.
Since then, Russian forces have advanced, capturing three additional villages west of Avdiivka.
Late last month, Kyiv confirmed the withdrawal of its forces from the villages of Lastochkyne, Sievierne, and Stepove.
A Ukrainian military spokesman stated that the troops were withdrawn to strengthen defenses and prevent the enemy from advancing further westward.
Russian gains in and around Avdiivka bring Moscow closer to gaining full control of the Donbas region, which consists of both Donetsk and Luhansk.
Control over the Russian-speaking Donbas region has been a significant Russian objective since the invasion of eastern Ukraine over two years ago.
The fight for Avdiivka began when a Ukrainian counter-offensive stalled last October. According to Russia’s defense ministry, Kyiv lost 160,000 troops, along with hundreds of tanks and over 2,000 armored vehicles during the operation.
The ministry alleges that Ukrainian forces have continued to suffer significant losses, with 500 killed on March 5 alone, since the fall of Avdiivka.
Ukrainian casualty figures conflict with Russian claims, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited differing numbers for Ukrainian troops killed since the Russian invasion.
Meanwhile, Russian media has reported on the destruction of a third U.S.-supplied Abrams tank by Russian forces near Avdiivka, while the veracity of these claims remain unconfirmed.
Despite these developments, U.S. officials and mainstream media have not acknowledged the Russian reports.
Russia’s annexation of several regions following the invasion in February continues to be a point of contention, with Ukraine and its allies rejecting these actions as illegitimate.
Reuters contributed to this report.
