KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s military spokesperson Dmytro Lykhoviy announced on Tuesday that the country has decided to withdraw from the villages of Sievierne and Stepove, which were recently captured by Russian forces near the eastern town of Avdiika.
According to Lykhoviy, heavy battles took place for Sievierne, with Russia suffering significant losses during the fighting. The decision to pull back from these villages is part of a strategic move to position Ukrainian forces at a more defensible location along the front line.
Lykhoviy mentioned that both Sievierne and Stepove had a population of fewer than 100 people before the invasion, emphasizing the relatively small size of these villages.
Ukraine had been defending the town of Avdiivka for months, which involved protecting a protruding salient that extended into Russian-controlled territories. The recent withdrawal from Avdiivka has led to the decision to also leave villages within that salient.
The spokesperson highlighted that the new positions along the front line provide terrain that is more suitable for defensive purposes, indicating a strategic adjustment in response to the evolving military situation.
This development comes less than two weeks after the initial withdrawal from Avdiivka, signifying a continuous reassessment of Ukraine’s defensive strategy in the region.
(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Editing by William Maclean)
