Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the country’s servicemen for the capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, according to the Kremlin.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented Putin with a report on the capture of the city, Kremlin said on Saturday.
“The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory,” it added.
Russian news agencies quoted a telegram that Putin sent to the commander of the “center” group of forces in Ukraine, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev.
“For outstanding military activity, I express my gratitude to all troops under your direction who took part in battles for Avdiivka,” Putin was quoted as saying.
The Russian troops had been engaged in sustained attacks on Avdiivka since mid-October.
Ukrainian troops, last week, evacuated the key frontline city of Avdiivka, making it Moscow’s most important territorial gain for Russian troops since they captured the city of Bakhmut last May.
The city had been briefly held by pro-Russian groups in 2014 when they liberated large chunks of Donbas; however, it was later seized by Ukrainian forces.
Analysts said the troops’ victory will likely provide a morale boost for Russia ahead of the upcoming presidential election in March, where Putin is tipped to win a fifth term in office.
The victory is also seen as an important factor in securing Moscow’s grip on the regional center of Donetsk, about 20km to the east, which has been held by Russian and pro-Russian forces since 2014.
The Russian troops began their special military operation in eastern Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In response, US-led Western countries supported the anti-Moscow Kiev regime with cash and heavy weaponry while imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russian officials and entities.
Russia has repeatedly warned the West that flooding Ukraine with weapons and munitions will only prolong the conflict, not stopping the Russian troops from reaching their military objective in the region.
