Russian military officials say they have established near-total control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka after an intense and lengthy battle, pushing Ukrainian forces back several miles along what had long been a frozen front line.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend issued an impassioned plea for increased international aid in the wake of one of Russia’s biggest military successes in months in the nearly two-year invasion, while Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a message of congratulations to the troops.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian forces were still dealing with small pockets of resistance at the giant Soviet-era chemical plant in the city, The Associated Press reported. Videos on social media Saturday appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one facility at the plant.
After a fierce battle trying to hold the town, Ukrainian commanders said they were pulling back to avoid having their remaining forces surrounded by the Russian advance. The Kremlin on Sunday said Russian troops had advanced another five miles after taking the city.
Mr. Zelenskyy, addressing Vice President Kamala Harris and other international delegates at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, said the uncertain and dwindling level of Western support for Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned forces was beginning to tell, creating an “artificial deficit of arms” that Russian commanders were exploiting.
“Our actions are limited only by the sufficiency and length of the range of our strength — by what does not depend on us,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. “And the Avdiivka situation proves this exactly.”
Mr. Zelenskyy and President Biden spoke by phone Saturday, with the U.S. president saying he remained confident Congress would eventually pass a $60 billion military aid package for Kyiv that has stalled in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
But Mr. Biden acknowledged the support may not come in time to prevent more Ukrainian losses on the battlefield.
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.