DONETSK, February 26. /TASS/. Avdeyevka has been fully mopped up of Ukrainian troops, but not completely cleared of mines yet, Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, said on Channel One television.

"Yes, Avdeyevka has been mopped up, but this does not mean that it has been cleared of mines and that there is no danger there," he said.

Pushilin said that, in addition to the danger of unexploded ordnance, there is still a risk of aerial attacks in Avdeyevka, so it would not be possible to feel safe in the city.

According to Pushilin, the plan is to provide the residents of Avdeyevka with housing or compensation, employing the procedure that was developed for Mariupol. Reconstruction could begin when the engagement line is pushed back to a safe distance. There is also a lot of work to be done on mine clearance and debris removal, he said. The town has no heating and water supply.

On February 17, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces seized full control of Avdeyevka. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the withdrawal of Ukrainian units was chaotic. From Avdeyevka Ukrainian troops shelled nearby Donetsk and Makeyevka. According to the Defense Ministry, units of the battlegroup Center continue offensive operations in the Donetsk People’s Republic.