The Russian authorities announced this Monday “full control” of the coke plant in the city of Avdiivkain the province of Donetsk (east), a place where some Ukrainian soldiers would have been stationed after the withdrawal of troops from the city over the weekend.

“The Center group of troops, in the development of the offensive, has taken full control of the coke plant in Avdiivka,” said the Russian Ministry of Defense on its Telegram account, where it highlighted that “Russian flags have been raised on the plant’s administrative buildings“.

The Russian Government confirmed the capture of the city on Saturdaywhich was his biggest victory in nearly nine months, although he has stated that “Ukrainian units” had been “entrenched” in the plantwhich dates back to Soviet times and became one of the largest in Europe.

The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksander Sirski, announced on Saturday the withdrawal from the city in the face of pressure exerted by Russia and with the aim of “avoid an encirclement” and “preserve the life and health of the military“. After this, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has stated that it is a “logical” and “fair” withdrawal, after months of fighting in the area.

Russia has had a numerical advantage in its efforts, intensified since October 2023, and has suffered significant losses in a battle that has caused enormous material losses in the city. For his part, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, congratulated the Army for this advance, which he described as a “great” victory and success, within the framework of the invasion of Ukraine, unleashed on February 24, 2022 by order of the Russian leader.