Zelenskyy on retreat from Vuhledar: Right step to save soldiers' lives
The retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) from Vuhledar, Donetsk region, was a right step to save soldiers' lives, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said on Thursday.
"Without proper weapons, we cannot stop the Russian Federation, which uses relevant weapons against us, destroys everything. And when it is destroying the positions of our fighters, they have to preserve their lives. Because they are more important than any buildings. Because these are our people, our citizens of Ukraine. And therefore, it is really the right thing to do when they retreat and can save themselves," he said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv on Thursday, when asked whether Ukraine was able to hold back the Russian offensive, taking into account the fact that the Ukrainian troops have retreated from Vuhledar.
As reported, the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces said that the high command has granted a permit to withdraw the units from Vuhledar with the aim of preserving the military personnel and equipment and to take positions for further actions.