UPDATE - Ukrainian troops withdraw from embattled eastern city

REVISES NAME OF CITY; UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT, BACKGROUND ON CITY; REVISED THROUGHOUT

By Elena Teslova and Merve Berker

MOSCOW (AA) – Ukraine is withdrawing units from the embattled eastern city of Avdiivka to “avoid encirclement” and save the lives of its soldiers, the country’s military chief said early Saturday.

"Based on the operational situation that has developed around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and save the life and health of military personnel, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and switch to defense on more advantageous lines," Chief of General Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on Facebook.

The city, located 13 kilometers (8 miles) north of Donetsk, it is an important transport and logistics hub, including for supplying weapons to Ukrainian troops.

Fighting for Avdiivka has been ongoing since 2014, in separatist battles preceding the current Russia-Ukraine war, which began nearly two years ago.

It has been hotly contested for its strategic position, situated on the way from the cities of Donetsk to Ukraine's strongholds of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and battles for the city have pulled Ukrainian troops from other places.

In addition, Avdiivka and its surroundings formed a protrusion of the territory controlled by Ukraine, deep into territory controlled by Russia.

“Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units, inflicted significant losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment,” wrote Syrskyi.

He added that Ukrainian units will return to the city.

Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said of the move: "It was a professional decision that will save many Ukrainian lives ... It is important for us to save the lives of our soldiers."