The information that spread earlier that up to a thousand Ukrainian servicemen were captured in Avdiyivka is a Russian propaganda narrative, said Dmytro Likhovy, spokesperson of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops.

"We were unpleasantly surprised, to put it mildly, by this publication, because we gave our comment on this, which was justified, and it seemed that everything logically should fall into place. But, unfortunately, I do not know whether the authors of The New York Times deliberately spread the Russian propaganda narrative without any justification. The sources they refer to are absolutely untenable, because there are no such people and this is not a fact," Likhovy said on the telethon.

He stressed that a number of Ukrainian servicemen who took part in the defense of Avdiyivka are indeed missing.

"During the final stage of Avdiyivka defense operation, and I have repeatedly stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not hide this, a number of servicemen did not get in touch. (...) These statements by Russian propaganda about hundreds and thousands of prisoners are complete disinformation, which is not confirmed by anything. We say yes, there are prisoners, but their number is by no means hundreds. At the same time, we remember every soldier, and we will fight for his liberation," the spokesperson stressed.

"Russia continues its aggression already in the information field. Having suffered significant losses in Avdiyivka operation, it now uses not only cannon fodder, bombs and shells, but also just banal fakes, which unfortunately are spread by some reputable world media," he added.

Earlier, The New York Times said, citing its own sources, that between 850 and 1,000 soldiers were captured during the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiyivka.