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Military operation in Ukraine

DPR reports large number of Ukrainian soldiers captured in Avdeyevka

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to President of Russia Vladimir Putin on February 17 that the Russian army had placed the city of Avdeyevka near Donetsk under its full control

DONETSK, February 19. /TASS/. Russian troops captured a large number of Ukrainian soldiers in Avdeyevka, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Head Denis Pushilin said in a live broadcast on the Rossiya-24 television channel on Monday.

"There is quite a large number of prisoners-of-war. In broad outline, I can say that the enemy was forced to surrender to stay alive. The information available to me indicates that this is quite a large number [of POWs]," Pushilin said.

The Russian Defense Ministry will release more exact data, if necessary, he said.

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to President of Russia Vladimir Putin on February 17 that the Russian army had placed the city of Avdeyevka near Donetsk under its full control. The Defense Ministry stressed that the information on the advance of Russian troops had not been disclosed until a complete defeat of Ukrainian forces in Avdeyevka.

After the seizure of Avdeyevka, Russia’s Battlegroup Center continues its offensive operations for further liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry said.

Avdeyevka is located 13 km north of Donetsk. According to official information, Avdeyevka was home to over 37,000 people as the early 2000s.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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