Ukrainian Armed Forces withdraw from Lastochkine in Donetsk region
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have withdrawn from the village of Lastochkine, near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The day before, it was reported that Ukrainian troops had taken up positions on the western outskirts of the village.
This was announced by the spokesperson for the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group of Troops, Dmytro Lykhovii, during a teleconference.
According to him, the Defence Forces withdrew to organize defense near the villages of Orlivka, Tonenke, and Berdychi and to prevent further Russian advance in the western direction.
Yesterday, 25 February, the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group of Forces reported a withdrawal to the western outskirts of Lastochkine. Ukrainian troops took up prepared defensive positions there. At the same time, the DeepState monitoring platform stated earlier that Russian troops had already occupied the village.
Stanislav Bunyatov, a Ukrainian soldier of the 24th separate assault battalion “Aidar”, also claimed the same. He said that the Defence Forces had left Lastochkine to avoid blocking logistical routes and to save their personnel.
The situation in this area
On the morning of February 26, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that over the past day in the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 25 Russian attacks, in particular in the area of Lastochkino. The occupiers also attacked near the settlements of Severne, Stepove, Berdychi, and Nevelske.