Kremlin Declares Victory in Avdiivka

Russian news agencies reported that President Vladimir Putin congratulated on Saturday the military units that captured the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, as well as the commander of these forces. The agencies conveyed that Putin expressed his gratitude in a telegram to the commander of the group in Ukraine, stating, "I express my gratitude for the outstanding military work demonstrated by all the forces under your command that participated in the battles for Avdiivka." The telegram included the names of the units involved in the operation.