Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from Avdiivka in Donetsk region to avoid encirclement and to preserve the lives and health of servicemen, according to the commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi. “Based on the operational situation that has developed around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I have decided to withdraw our units from the city and transition to a defensive stance at more advantageous positions,” Syrskyi stated. According to him, Ukrainian soldiers have performed their military duty honorably, don…