1000 Ukrainian soldiers captured in fall of Avdiivka: Report
5 Min Read
A New York Times report details how Ukrainian soldiers were captured in the Avdiivka retreat, what facilitated the capture, and testimonies from direct actors.
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A Ukrainian police officer takes cover in front of a burning building that was hit in a Russian airstrike in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP)
When the Russian army advanced into Avdiivka before marking a significant win over Ukraine, the latter's troops rushed to retreat. Amid the chaos, it was speculated that some 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers were captured by the Russian army, or had been labeled as "unaccounted for", according to a New York Times report.
Ukraine's defeat came amid the United States Congress' delay in funding the army with military aid, and the significant shortages in artillery and the necessary arsenal to hold a strong grip on the frontlines. With an already dwindling morale, the capturing of Ukrainian soldiers signified another nail in the coffin for Ukraine.
Despite all of that, US officials did not regard the loss as a severe deterrence, and stated that it does not foreshadow future battles in different cities. Ukrainian lines would reportedly be well-sustained on the battlefield, and Moscow would not be able to face another seriously active battle so short after Avdiivka.
However, the capturing of Ukrainian soldiers calculated an entirely new formula that favored Russian odds. The main concern US officials showed was the further enfeebled morale among Ukrainian troopers, who have not only seen loss in Avdiivka, but throughout the counteroffensive itself, and amid the removal of their top commander. So, with the constant loss of human resources, between injured, dead, and captured, and the inability to recruit or retain soldiers, Ukraine faces mega-challenges that might just determine the course of the war.
While the military moves to recruit over 500,000 additional troops, they are faced with the predicament of parliamentary rejection, and the recruitment of new personnel in the absence of experienced and skilled ones, which complicates the process.
Ukraine conceals its loss
The Ukrainian military has downplayed the severity of the matter and the actual number of soldiers that were captured by Russia, according to NYT.
The commander of Ukraine's fighting in the area, General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, stated on Telegram that Ukraine's withdrawal from Avdiivka took course according to plan, but “at the final stage of the operation, under pressure from the superior forces of the enemy, some Ukrainian servicemen fell into captivity.” The tally was not disclosed.
Moreover, Tarnavsky's spokesperson, Dmytro Lykhovii, additionally refuted reports that claimed the capturing of hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers during the Avdiivka battle. Instead, he disclosed that a few service members had been captured, while other soldiers were simply "missing".
Another Ukrainian senior official proclaimed that only six soldiers from the Third Separate Assault Brigade were taken by Russian forces amid disconnection from the military and the absence of artillery for defense.
A Hasty Plan
Western officials and Ukrainian soldiers chose to blame the disorder that unfolded during the retreat and the state of complete collapse of defenses that allowed the Russian army to dominate and snag Ukrainian soldiers. Anonymous speakers told The New York Times that the withdrawal lacked accurate and necessary planning, which is why the events that unfolded during the retreat materialized.
Details of the retreat were shared by the NYT as well. Soldiers stated that the army was unprepared and shocked by the speed of the comeback the Russian army made.
While the Third Separate Assault Brigade tried to cover the retreating forces and buy them time, their efforts did not balance out the Russian push. But to polish Ukraine's loss, a senior militant claimed that Russia suffered significant material and human losses as they advanced in full force into an active battle and fought extensively until Ukraine folded and fell back.
During withdrawal, which was not inevitable according to US strategists, a number of factors constituted the loss. First and foremost, the delay in withdrawal gave Russian forces an advantage. Second the Russian encirclement of Avdiivka left only one road out of the city for a retreat. However, the route itself was attacked in previous battles, making it harder and more hazardous to maneuver. Third, the inability to communicate clearly triggered confusion and chaos and facilitated a fallout among Ukrainian ranks, between killed and captured.
The accumulation of these of the situation during withdrawal caused the rapid defeat. The New York Times speculated that the Kremlin did not even anticipate the speed of collapse as no immediate coordinated or organized message was sent out at the time of the Ukrainian army's defeat.
Burning Ukrainian tanks retreat from Avdiivka pic.twitter.com/UfnaZhcUby
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2,400 losses to Russia
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday disclosed important details regarding losses suffered by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) during their defeat in the battle of Avdiivka.
Shoigu said that the UAF left many wounded soldiers behind, as well as weaponry and heavily mined areas, noting that work is underway to clear the area.
"The enemy, flees [Avdiivka], leaving many prisoners, many wounded behind. A lot of weapons were abandoned, and a lot of portable anti-aircraft missile systems pipes. A lot of work is underway on mine clearance," Shoigu said, noting that the retreat of Ukrainian troops was not organized.
The Minister added that Ukrainian troops suffered an estimated loss of 2,400 in Avdiivka, within the span of merely 24 hours (February 17-18).
Read more: Putin congratulates military on 'important victory' in Avdiivka
