Ukrainian forces withdraw from Avdiivka to avoid encirclement, army chief says

Russian takeover of eastern city would give it full control of area surrounding Donetsk, which Moscow annexed in 2014

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the eastern city of Avdiivka to avoid encirclement, army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has said, marking the biggest change on the frontlines since Russian forces captured Bakhmut in May last year.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the recently appointed Syrskyi said he had acted to preserve the lives and health of servicemen", stabilise the situation and move troops to more favourable defence lines.