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Ukrainian soldiers are withdrawing from positions in the shattered town of Avdiivka after advancing Russian forces breached a critical supply line and threatened to encircle scores of Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian military officials and soldiers said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesman for Ukrainian forces fighting in the area, said the Ukrainians were \u201cmaneuvering\u201d and \u201csometimes withdrawing to more advantageous positions and sometimes repelling enemy advances.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said military commanders had set up a backup logistical route to the town to transport much needed supplies to Ukraine\u2019s beleaguered troops.<\/p>\n
The battle, Mr. Lykhovii said, was dynamic and changing by the hour as the two sides engaged in fierce urban combat. But his comments suggested the fighting had taken another ominous turn for Kyiv\u2019s forces, potentially presaging their withdrawal from a town reduced to ruins by months of horrendous bombardment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In a war of mostly small territorial gains, the capture of Avdiivka would be the Russians\u2019 most significant battlefield achievement since taking Bakhmut last May.<\/p>\n
Signs of Ukraine\u2019s deteriorating hold on Avdiivka have been evident for several weeks. Ukraine recently rotated out soldiers from the 110th Brigade, which had played a vital role in the defense of the city for two years but were exhausted and severely depleted after months of brutal combat. Soldiers from the elite Third Assault Brigade were sent in to shore up Ukraine\u2019s forces but noted that they were being sent into a situation that was already \u201cextremely critical.\u201d<\/p>\n