MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Several hundred civilians are staying in Avdeyevka liberated by Russian troops, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Head Denis Pushilin said in a live broadcast on Russia’s Television Channel One on Monday.
"In my estimates, several hundred civilians are staying there," he said.
The DPR head said that he had handed down an order to organize the work of volunteers in Avdeyevka, considering that not all the local residents wanted to leave the community.
"Some simply would like to get documents and have applied precisely for leaving, filing applications for social benefits and pensions and then coming back. A lot of technical work has to be done and some are ready to wait and some are also ready to help," Pushilin said.
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 17 that Russian troops had taken full control of the city of Avdeyevka near Donetsk. The Ukrainian army withdrew from Avdeyevka in a chaotic retreat. Russia’s Defense Ministry stressed.
Avdeyevka is located west of Yasinovataya and from that location the Ukrainian military had been shelling nearby Donetsk and Makeyevka. As Russia’s Defense Ministry reported, Russian troops continue offensive operations for further liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic.