Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone fired three missiles in the vicinity of the town of Bodai, west of Baalbek.
Reuters: The Rapid Support Forces announced that they have taken over the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces in al-Fasher.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Al-Qlailah, Southern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strikes town of Harouf, Nabatieh district.
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.

Ukrainian soldiers captured during Avdiivka retreat: Ukraine General

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Feb 2024 20:38
3 Min Read

After months of intensive fighting, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced earlier today the decision to withdraw troops from Avdiivka.

  • x
  • Russia captured several Ukrainian soldiers during Avdiivka withdrawal
    A Screen Grab from one of the videos posted on social media depicting Russian soldiers in the center of Avdiivka (Social Media)

On Saturday, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the Ukrainian military commander of the Tavria operational group, said that several Ukrainian troops had been captured during the process of withdrawal from their stronghold in Avdiivka.

"The withdrawal of personnel from Avdiivka took place in accordance with a plan designed with consideration of different scenarios and a possible change in the operational situation. And yet, at the final stage of the operation, under pressure from superior enemy forces, several Ukrainian service people were captured," Tarnavskyi said in a statement quoted by the Ukrainian newspaper Strana. 

He added that Ukrainian authorities are currently reaching out to international humanitarian organizations and mediator countries to ensure that the norms of international humanitarian law are upheld regarding the captured troops.

🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ | EXCLUSIVE | ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

Sad stories from Ukrainian soldiers from the 110th mechanized brigade, who were sent to die in Avdiivka, but were lucky to surrender pic.twitter.com/BGK7SGXftG

— Тоби айоделе -Tboy🇳🇬🇷🇺 (@TobiAyodele) February 17, 2024

Read more: Ukrainian Forces retreat from Avdiivka in new blow: Army chief

After months of intensive fighting, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced earlier today the decision to withdraw troops from Avdiivka. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the decision was made to "save people's lives."

Signs of withdrawal initially surfaced on Thursday, when US National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby stated that the situation in Avdiivka is critical and warned that the city may fall under Russian control due to Ukraine's ammo shortage.

Then, on Friday, Brigadier General Tarnavskyi announced that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn from their positions in the southern part of Avdiivka, reporting casualties.

Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ukraine's very young forced mobilization soldiers were forced to surrender quietly at night. They contacted VOLGA 149.200
They had no combat experience, little training, and ran out of food and ammo.#Avdiivka #Azov NeoNAZI#ZelenskyWarCriminal & Warmonger pic.twitter.com/FwA6z0wCGl

— AW. Wikanadi  (@awwikanadi) February 17, 2024

Syrskyi, appointed just last week, had deployed additional forces to support the defense of Avdiivka. However, statements from Tarnavskiy indicated that Kiev might be contemplating a withdrawal from the city, as it was reportedly encircled on three sides by Russian forces.

Russian victory on the horizon

Russian military operations in the Donetsk region which have been ongoing for several months to seize control of Avdiivka and other territories came to fruition. 

The city has served as a key stronghold for Ukrainian forces as they continue to launch whatever remains of their artillery and rocket shells on nearby Donetsk city and its suburbs. 

The Ukrainian army has heavily fortified Avdiivka since 2015 by constructing deep underground bunkers and passageways with concrete walls up to five meters thick. Observers say the fortifications indicated a clear lack of intention to fulfill the Minsk peace agreement of 2015.

The capture of Avdiivka and adjacent territories could potentially ease the ongoing shelling of Donetsk, but the battle also extends to other settlements west of Donetsk, including Maryinka, Krasnogorovka, Karlivka, and Kurakhovo.

Some assimilate the battle for Avdiivka to the previous months-long battle for control of Bakhmut, which ended in a Russian victory in May last year.

Read more: Kirby claims US security threat from Russia's anti-satellite weapons

  • Syrsky
  • Avdiivka
  • Oleksandr Syrskyi
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Oleksandr
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Undated photo of Hanwha Ocean’s Goeje Shipyard in South Korea (Hanwha Ocean)
Politics

China counters US maritime bloc with sanctions on Hanwha Ocean

Catherine Connolly speaks after being after being elected as the new President of Ireland at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Connolly wins Irish presidency in blow to political establishment

Buildings destroyed during the Israeli air and ground offensive are seen in the Al-Shati camp, in Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel's' post-ceasefire demolitions in Gaza violate agreement: Hamas

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: Our nuclear bomb is resilience, not weapons

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS