Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 17, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Ukrainian general announces withdrawal from Avdiivka ‘to avoid encirclement, preserve lives’
FILE - A Ukrainian soldier sits in his position in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on August 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Libkos, File)
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where the situation has deteriorated considerably in recent days, General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, who commands the area, says early Saturday.
“Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines,” he says on Telegram.
