Ukraine took several lessons from the loss of Avdiivka, namely the importance of air defenses, long-range weapons, artillery shells, and fortifications, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Feb. 17. Umerov made the comments the same that the Ukrainian military announced a full withdrawal from the front-line city in Donetsk Oblast. Lying mere kilometers from occupied Donetsk, Avdiivka has stood against Russian forces since 2014. The city has been under an intensified onslaught since October 2023, culminating in Avdiivka’s capture by Russia. “Modern air defense systems are needed so that the e…