MOSCOW, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) :
Russian forces have taken full control of the Avdiivka coke and chemical plant, the country’s defense ministry said in a statement on Monday.
It said Russian forces had taken more favorable lines and positions in the Avdiivkda direction, adding that the country’s forces had “fully liberated the coke and chemical plant” in the city.
Russian troops also hit clusters of manpower and hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 71st jaeger and 23rd mechanized brigades, as well as the 116th territorial defense brigade in Donetsk, it said.
Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 565 soldiers killed and wounded in this direction, according to the ministry.
Two armored fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, two U.S.-made M777 howitzers and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed over the past day.
