Russia announced the completion of the capture of the city of Advievka

On Monday, Moscow said it had completed its capture of Avdeevka in eastern Ukraine, eliminating the last pocket of resistance located at a coal (coke) thermal power plant.

Russian authorities announced on Saturday that they had taken control of Avdiivka, and Ukrainian troops confirmed their withdrawal from the city, marking a military achievement for the Kremlin.

According to the American news agency Associated Press (AP), this victory energizes Russia a few days before the two-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, February 24, 2022.

For Ukraine, the defeat increases dependence on Western supplies of arms and ammunition, since due to delays in the delivery of expected aid, Kiev is short of supplies and is at a military disadvantage.

According to the AP, “Russia will likely continue to insist on its advantage, feeling that Ukraine is weakened.”

Russia has bombarded Avdiivka with dozens of glide bombs in recent days, leaving the defenders with little cover, a senior Ukrainian officer involved in the battle said.

“The positions we held were simply destroyed,” Rodion Kudryashov, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Ukrainian troops had “so little ammunition that they had to pick and choose targets,” Kudryashov said.

Outnumbered and outgunned, the Ukrainian military retreated to pre-prepared positions, the same official said, adding that the standoff was uneven.

“If we are talking about infantry, (the difference) is one in seven. If we are talking about military equipment, then it is one in eight, and for artillery it is one in eleven,” Kudryashov said, citing information from the military secret services.

Western military analysts consulted by the AP believe Ukraine could counter Russia’s efforts to build on Avdiivka’s success by attempting to build new lines of defense in the region and deploying new units to counter Kremlin forces.

However, the ammunition shortage is a situation affecting the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with Russia trying to exploit the circumstances while the United States struggles to reach a political agreement to increase aid and Europe tries to increase production.

The $61 billion aid package offered by the United States to Ukraine is seen as “crucial” to Ukraine’s victory.

Without American funding, Ukraine will likely “begin to lose the war,” AP analysts report.

“Delays in Western aid to Ukraine are likely helping Russia launch offensive operations across multiple front lines to pressure Ukrainian forces on multiple fronts,” the Institute for Ukrainian Studies said in its assessment of the war. on Sunday.

According to the same Washington think tank, in addition to Avdiivka, Russia is exerting greater pressure in the northeastern region of Kharkov and southern Zaporozhye.