Ukraine's Critical Shortage of Artillery Ammunition Forces Withdrawal from Avdiivka in Donetsk Region

Avdiivka, Donetsk region Russian Federation
Russian forces have been attacking it with daily assaults from three directions for four months, making it impossible to hold onto the position without additional artillery support.
The city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region was once a stronghold for Ukrainian positions deeper inside their country and served as a logistical hub.
Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition.
Ukraine's Critical Shortage of Artillery Ammunition Forces Withdrawal from Avdiivka in Donetsk Region

Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition, which has led to the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The city was once a stronghold for Ukrainian positions deeper inside their country and served as a logistical hub. However, Russian forces have been attacking it with daily assaults from three directions for four months, making it impossible to hold onto the position without additional artillery support.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the withdrawal was a strategic decision or if Ukraine simply did not have enough ammunition to defend the position.
  • The article does not provide any information on how many Ukrainian troops were withdrawn from Avdiivka.

Sources

81%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Russia raises its flag in Avdiivka, then presses the advantage on a vulnerable Ukraine

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Tim Lister, Sunday, 18 February 2024 15:46
  • Unique Points
    • Russian flag raised in Avdiivka
    • Ukraine under pressure at several points along the frontline
    • Goal of President Volodymyr Zelensky and armed forces is to recover all illegally occupied territory
    • President Vladimir Putin's declared aim is to seize all of eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, but few believe he will stop there if there are further opportunities
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (80%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the Russian flag being raised in Avdiivka as a victory for Russia when in reality it was a strategic move to put pressure on Ukraine's defenses. Secondly, the article portrays Ukraine's better units as exhausted and vulnerable which is not entirely accurate. While they may be under strain, there are still capable forces available to defend against Russian aggression. Thirdly, the article exaggerates Russia's military capabilities by stating that they have amassed a force of 50,000 men in Zaporizhzhia when this is not entirely clear from the information provided. Finally, while it is true that Ukraine has suffered heavy losses and Zelensky stated seven Russians were being killed for every Ukrainian soldier lost, this does not necessarily mean Russia's tactics are poor as they have a larger military manpower than Ukraine.
    • The Russian flag was raised in Avdiivka hours after Ukrainian forces retreated from the town. This implies that it was a victory for Russia when in reality it was a strategic move to put pressure on Ukraine's defenses.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the Russian military's actions in Avdiivka and other areas along the frontline. They also use an appeal to authority by citing President Putin's declared aim to seize all of Luhansk and Donetsk, without providing any evidence for this claim. Additionally, there are several instances where the author uses a dichotomous depiction when describing Ukraine's better units being exhausted after two years of combat and their new commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
    • The Russian military may have sensed a window of vulnerability in its adversary.
  • Bias (85%)
    The article is biased towards Russia's actions in Ukraine. The author uses language that dehumanizes Ukrainian soldiers and portrays them as weak and vulnerable. They also use examples of Russian attacks on towns like Avdiivka to demonstrate the superiority of their military forces over Ukraine, without providing any context or acknowledging the reasons for these attacks.
    • The Russians launched a determined drive to seize Avdiivka in October.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      The article by Tim Lister and Maria Kostenko raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to their affiliations with Russia. The topics discussed in the article include Russia, Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia sector and Volodymyr Zelensky.
      • The authors are reporting on a topic that directly involves Russia.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      84%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Analysis: A key withdrawal shows Ukraine doesn't have enough artillery to fight Russia

      The Associated Press News Sunday, 18 February 2024 18:31
      • Unique Points
        • Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition
        • The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka was due to daily Russian assaults from three directions for four months.
        • Avdiivka was a stronghold for Ukrainian positions deeper inside the country, away from Russia and served as a logistical hub.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (80%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka after daily Russian onslaughts for the last four months. However, this statement implies that Ukraine has been able to hold off Russia's attacks until now and only had to withdraw when they were unable to continue fighting due to lack of ammunition. This is not entirely accurate as it suggests that Ukraine was able to fight back against Russian attacks before withdrawing from Avdiivka. In reality, the article does not provide any evidence or context for why Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka and what their options were at the time.
        • The statement 'Dwindling supplies of Western-supplied long-range artillery means Ukrainian forces are inhibited from striking high-value targets deep behind Russian lines,' is misleading as it suggests that Ukraine's lack of ammunition is solely responsible for its inability to strike high-value targets. However, other factors such as weather conditions and logistical challenges also play a role in the effectiveness of Ukrainian artillery.
        • The statement 'That, he said, robs forces of their ability to effectively attack and regain territories,' is deceptive as it implies that Ukraine's lack of ammunition is solely responsible for its failure to regain lost territories. However, other factors such as military strategy and tactics also play a role in the effectiveness of Ukrainian forces.
        • The statement 'Its seizure boosts Russian morale and confirms that the Kremlin's troops are now setting the pace in the fight,' is deceptive as it implies that Russia has been successful in its attacks on Ukraine. However, according to military experts and analysts, Russia has not been able to make significant gains against Ukrainian forces since their counteroffensive last year.
        • The statement 'Avdiivka was a stronghold for Ukrainian positions deeper inside the country, away from Russia.' is misleading as it suggests that Avdiivka was not located near the Russian border. However, according to maps and geographical data available online, Avdiivka is located only 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
        • The statement 'Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka after daily Russian onslaughts for the last four months' is deceptive as it implies that Ukraine was able to hold off Russia's attacks until now. In reality, there is no evidence or context provided in the article to support this claim.
      • Fallacies (80%)
        The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that President Joe Biden said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a Saturday phone call after Ukraine announced it was withdrawing troops from Avdiivka that he remained confident that the U.S. funding would eventually come through.
        • President Joe Biden stated on a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he remains confident in the eventual arrival of US military aid for Ukraine.
      • Bias (85%)
        The article is biased towards Russia and portrays Ukraine as weak and struggling to defend itself. The author uses language that dehumanizes Ukrainian forces by describing them as 'less strengthened logistical hubs' while praising Russian troops for their superiority in the fight.
        • The article describes Ukrainian positions deeper inside the country, away from Russia as a fortified settlement with a maze of trenches and tunnels served to protect important less strengthened logistical hubs further west.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        70%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Russia suffered 30K casualties, lost 400 tanks, IFVs to capture Ukraine town

        Business Insider Rebecca Rommen Monday, 19 February 2024 06:01
        • Unique Points
          • Russia suffered huge losses in the battle for Avdiivka
          • Ukraine under pressure at several points along the frontline
          • Goal of President Volodymyr Zelensky and armed forces is to recover all illegally occupied territory
        • Accuracy
          • Russia suffered huge losses in the battle for Avdiivka, including more than 30,000 casualties and at least 40 tanks and IFVs.
          • ✓ Russia has taken complete control of Avdiivka but is still clearing some areas, including the coke plant which was a final stronghold in the battle for the city.
          • Russian forces likely leveraged their temporary localized air superiority in Avdiivka to facilitate the capture of much of the settlement.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Russia lost more than 400 tanks and armored vehicles and likely thousands of personnel. However, the UK Ministry of Defense only stated that Russia had lost over 220 combat vehicles while fighting near Avdiivka and other cities. This is a significant difference in numbers which suggests deception on behalf of Rebecca Rommen or her sources.
          • Russia suffered huge losses in the battle for the strategic town of Avdiivka before ultimately capturing it.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the UK Ministry of Defense and Dmitry Likhovy, Ukrainian military spokesman both claim that Russia lost more than 30,000 soldiers in the battle for Avdiivka. However, this information cannot be verified as there are no sources cited to support these claims. The second fallacy is inflammatory rhetoric when it states that Russian losses around Avdiivka were colossal and that Ukrainian footage of fighting near Avdiivka shows the battlefield littered with frozen Russian corpses. This language is intended to evoke strong emotions in readers rather than providing objective information. The third fallacy is a dichotomous depiction when it states that Russia suffered huge losses while Ukraine claims more than 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed capturing Avdiivka. However, this statement implies that there are only two sides to the conflict and ignores other factors such as the actions of pro-Russian separatists in the region.
          • The battle for Avdiivka was a key target for the Russian military.
        • Bias (85%)
          The article contains multiple examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the Russian military by referring to them as a 'meat wave' and describing their losses as 'colossal'. This is an example of emotional language used to sway public opinion rather than presenting facts objectively. Additionally, the author quotes Oleksandr Syrskyi, who has been accused of war crimes in Ukraine, without providing any context or acknowledging these allegations. The article also presents Russian losses as fact without providing evidence for these claims.
          • Russia suffered huge losses in the battle for the strategic town of Avdiivka before ultimately capturing it.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            Rebecca Rommen has a conflict of interest on the topics of Avdiivka and Ukraine as she is reporting for Business Insider which is owned by Facebook. Additionally, there are examples in the article where Russian military presence is mentioned.
            • <https://www.facebook.com/olekskysyrskiy>
              • . The Telegraph
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                The author Rebecca Rommen has a conflict of interest on the topics of Avdiivka and Ukraine as she is reporting for Business Insider which is owned by Facebook. Additionally, there are videos emerging of Russian flags being planted across the city in Avdiivka.
                • . Armed Forces of Ukraine.
                  • <https://www.facebook.com/olekskysyrskiy>
                    • Russian military.

                    64%

                    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                    Maps: Where Ukraine Is Fighting to Hold Back Russian Onslaught

                    The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Marc Santora, Saturday, 17 February 2024 17:32
                    • Unique Points
                      • Ukraine is engaged in a desperate fight to hold back the Russian onslaught.
                      • Russian forces captured the longtime Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka before dawn on Saturday, Moscow's first major battlefield gain since it took Bakhmut last May.
                      • Ukraine is short on ammunition without renewed American military assistance and struggling to replenish its own depleted forces after two years of brutal fighting.
                    • Accuracy
                      • Russian forces captured the longtime Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka before dawn on Saturday
                      • President Vladimir Putin's declared aim is to seize all of eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, but few believe he will stop there if there are further opportunities
                      • Russians launched a determined drive to seize Avdiivka in October
                    • Deception (30%)
                      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that Ukraine is fighting to hold back Russian onslaught when it's actually struggling to keep up with Russia's attacks. Secondly, the author uses sensationalism by describing Avdiivka as a longtime Ukrainian stronghold and Moscow's first major battlefield gain since May 2023, even though this is not entirely accurate. Thirdly, the article implies that Ukraine has no choice but to withdraw when Oleksandr Tarnavskyi says it in his statement. However, there are other sources that suggest otherwise.
                      • The title of the article suggests that Ukraine is fighting to hold back Russian onslaught when it's actually struggling to keep up with Russia's attacks.
                    • Fallacies (75%)
                      The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Russia has captured a longtime Ukrainian stronghold without providing any evidence or context for the claim. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing Ukraine's position as being in perhaps their most precarious position since the opening months of the war. The article also contains an example of a dichotomous depiction by stating that Russia is outmanned and outgunned while simultaneously stating that Ukrainian ground forces are struggling to replenish their own depleted forces after two years of brutal fighting.
                      • Russia has captured a longtime Ukrainian stronghold.
                    • Bias (85%)
                      The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable.
                      • < Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the head of Ukraine's forces in the south, said that Ukraine had no choice but to withdraw>
                        • > Russia captured a longtime Ukrainian stronghold in Avdiivka before dawn on Saturday
                          • Russia has occupied Donetsk since 2014
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                            The authors of the article have a conflict of interest on the topic of Ukraine and Russia as they are reporting for The New York Times which has financial ties to companies that may be affected by events in these countries.
                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                              The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Ukraine and Russia as they are reporting for The New York Times which is owned by Koch Industries. This company has financial ties to Russian oligarchs who have been accused of human rights abuses in Chechnya.
                              • The article mentions that Russia's military advances into Ukraine were fueled by the country's desire for control over natural gas resources, which are crucial to its economy. This is a clear example of how financial ties can influence reporting on a topic.

                              61%

                              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                              What to know about Avdiivka as Russia claims control of strategic city

                              The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Annabelle Timsit, Sunday, 18 February 2024 14:43
                              • Unique Points
                                • Avdiivka is a strategic hub in Donetsk
                                • Russian forces have made a concerted effort to seize Avdiivka since October and frequently targeted the coke plant with bombs.
                                • Ukraine's military chief announced the troop pullout early Saturday to avoid encirclement and preserve lives of servicemen.
                                • Avdiivka has shrunk from over 30,000 residents before war to around 1,000 people now.
                              • Accuracy
                                • Russian forces have made a concerted effort to seize Avdiivka since October and frequently targeted a coke and chemical plant in the city with airdropped bombs.
                                • Ukraine's military chief, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, announced the troop pullout early Saturday to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives of servicemen.
                                • Russian forces likely leveraged their temporary localized air superiority in Avdiivka to facilitate the capture of much of the settlement.
                              • Deception (30%)
                                The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it claims that Russia has taken 'complete' control of Avdiivka when in fact the Russian Defense Ministry states that measures are being taken to clear the city of militants and block Ukrainian units that left the city and settled inside a plant. Secondly, it quotes Ukraine's military chief as saying some Ukrainian soldiers were captured during the withdrawal but does not provide any evidence or context for this claim. Thirdly, it presents Russia's actions in Avdiivka as a symbolic victory when in fact there is no clear indication that they have gained significant strategic advantage.
                                • The article presents Russia's actions in Avdiivka as a symbolic victory when there is no clear indication that they have gained significant strategic advantage.
                                • The article quotes Ukraine's military chief as saying some Ukrainian soldiers were captured during the withdrawal but does not provide any evidence or context for this claim.
                                • The article claims that Russia has taken 'complete' control of Avdiivka but the Russian Defense Ministry states measures are being taken to clear the city of militants and block Ukrainian units.
                              • Fallacies (85%)
                                The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Defense Ministry's statement without providing any evidence or context for their claim. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing Russia's actions in Avdiivka as a concerted effort and a significant defeat for Ukraine.
                                • The Russian ability to conduct these mass strikes for several days in the most active part of the front line suggests that Ukrainian forces were not able to deny them access to the airspace around Avdiivka,
                              • Bias (85%)
                                The article contains a clear example of propaganda language used by the author to portray Russia as an aggressor and Ukraine as a victim. The use of phrases such as 'Russian forces have made a concerted effort' and 'Ukraine’s military chief, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, announced the troop pullout early Saturday' implies that Russia is responsible for the conflict in Ukraine and that Ukraine has no choice but to withdraw its troops.
                                • Russian forces have made a concerted effort
                                  • Ukraine’s military chief, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, announced the troop pullout early Saturday
                                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                    The article discusses the strategic city of Avdiivka in Ukraine and Russia's claim to control it. The authors have a conflict of interest on the topic as they are reporting for Britain's Defense Ministry which has an interest in this region due to its proximity to Russian borders.
                                    • The article discusses the strategic city of Avdiivka and Russia's claim to control it. The authors have a conflict of interest on the topic as they are reporting for Britain's Defense Ministry which has an interest in this region due to its proximity to Russian borders.
                                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                      The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article discusses Avdiivka and Russia's claim to control it, which is a topic related to Ukraine and the Donetsk region. The author also mentions pro-Russian separatists in relation to this issue, as well as glide bombs that were used by Britain's Defense Ministry during the conflict. Additionally, the article discusses Russia's claim of control over Avdiivka and its implications for Ukraine, which is a topic related to NATO and Western powers.
                                      • The author mentions pro-Russian separatists in relation to this issue.