Former CIA director explains why capturing Avdiivka had no strategic purpose for Russia
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Ukrainian troops should really have been withdrawn from the encircled Avdiivka (Donetsk Oblast), though Russia paid an enormous price to capture this demolished city, former CIA director (2011-2012) David Petraeus said in an interview with NV.
Having withdrawn to the west from Avdiivka, the Ukrainian defense will stabilize, he noted.
"Avdiivka was obviously surrounded by Russians on both sides, the troops really had to be withdrawn,” General Petraeus said.
“It is not a strategically important geographical point. There is no major highway or railroad, or other hub that still operates and passes through the area. I think it was a perfectly right decision by (Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief) General [Oleksandr] Syrskyi and Ukraine’s military leadership.”
Read also: Ukraine halts Russian battlefield advance — Zelenskyy
Russian losses during the assault on Avdiivka were staggering, so it is impossible to assume that the aggressor achieved strategic success, he added.
"It was actually an overwhelming price for them to pay,” noted the ex-CIA official.
“It's hard to call their advance a breathtaking victory, given the heavy losses they suffered to take control of what is actually a completely destroyed city.”
Ukraine’s Defense Forces withdrew from Avdiivka on Feb. 17 following four months of intense battles and regular attacks by Russian troops, Syrskyi said at the time. The decision was made to avoid encirclement and to preserve the lives and health of the military.
Ukrainian forces have exhausted the momentum of Russian troops had after the fall of Avdiivka and stopped their advance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 11.
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