Russia: War ‘matter of life and death’, says Putin – Kremlin celebrates capture of Avdiivka – 2024-02-19 01:12:13

The Russian president Vladimir Putin he assured that “what is happening” in Ukraine is “a matter of life and death” for his country, while for the West the goal is “to improve its strategic position”, according to his interview published today.

Putin assessed that it is “important” for Russians as well as foreigners “to understand our spirit, to understand at what point what is happening in Ukraine is sensitive and important for our country”.

“For the West it is simply about improving its strategic position. But for us it is our destiny, it is a matter of life and death”, he emphasized according to an excerpt of his interview posted on social media by journalist Pavel Zurubin.

The Russian president was referring to the interview he gave to American journalist Tucker Carlson, the first given by Putin to a Western media outlet since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and which has garnered more than 200 million views in China.

In the interview with Carlson, which lasted more than two hours and was seen as a message to the US and Europe, Putin said a defeat for his country in Ukraine was “impossible”, although he added that he was ready for “dialogue” with the West .

The Fall of Abdiivka

Russia announced its capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka after Ukrainian forces withdrew, but Moscow said some Ukrainian soldiers remained holed up in the huge coke and chemical plant in the area.

The fall of Abdiivka is Russia’s most significant victory since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023 and comes almost two years after the war began following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Ukraine announced it had withdrawn its troops from Avdiivka to prevent a complete encirclement after months of heavy fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the fall of the city as a major victory and congratulated Russian troops.

“The head of state congratulated the Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

But Russia added that some Ukrainian forces remain holed up in the Soviet-era Abdiivka coke and chemical plant, one of Europe’s largest, which is key to Moscow gaining full control of the Donbas industrial region.

“Measures are being taken to completely clear the city of insurgents and exclude the Ukrainian units that have remained there and have taken up positions at the Avdiivka coke plant,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

In 2014, Russian-backed separatist rebels briefly seized Avdiivka, home to about 32,000 people before the war. However, the city was recaptured by Ukrainian forces, who built extensive fortifications there.

Weapons shortages

US President Joe Biden has warned that Avdiivka could be seized by Russia due to ammunition shortages facing Ukrainian forces, after months of new US aid to Ukraine being blocked in Congress.

A statement from the White House on Saturday said that Biden spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in order to underline the commitment of the US to continue supporting Ukraine. At the same time, the Democrat repeated that it is necessary for the Congress to immediately release the aid for Kiev.

In addition, the White House estimated that the Ukrainian army was forced to retreat from Avdiivka “due to dwindling stockpiles (weapons) due to congressional inaction” which forced Ukrainian soldiers to use ammunition on a rationed basis and resulted in “the first notable victory of Russia for months”.

Push for Russia

The capture of Avdiivka is likely to boost Russian morale. It is also seen as another step towards the capture of Donetsk, the capital of the province of the same name, which is located about 20 kilometers further east and has been under the control of pro-Russian groups since 2014.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine have given details of their losses either overall in the war or in the battle for Avdiivka. Western intelligence agencies estimate that hundreds of thousands of men have been killed in the nearly two years of war on both sides.

Read also: Zelensky: “Lack of weapons strengthens Putin” – Russians are advancing in Ukraine