On This Day
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Ukraine withdraws its troops from the key eastern town of Avdiivka, blaming a lack of western-supplied weapons [1]

The Battle of Avdiivka was a major battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk Oblast, during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present).

The Battle of Avdiivka was a major battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk Oblast, during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present). After more than a year and a half of intermittent fighting along the city's outskirts, Russian forces launched an offensive to capture Avdiivka on 10 October 2023, resulting in what was considered one of the bloodiest and fiercest battles of the war.

Avdiivka was one of the most fortified settlements in Ukraine and had been described as a "gateway" to the nearby provincial capital of Donetsk.

Historical Significance

The Battle of Avdiivka was a major battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk Oblast, during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present).

Events Before

  1. Avenger's actor Jeremy Renner is accidentally run over by a snowplow, breaking more than 30 bones in his body near Reno,

    Avenger's actor Jeremy Renner is accidentally run over by a snowplow, breaking more than 30 bones in his body near Reno, Nevada [1]

  2. Crystal Renay Smith (37) divorces American singer NE-YO (43) after 12 years of marriage

    Crystal Renay Smith (37) divorces American singer NE-YO (43) after 12 years of marriage

  3. At age 45, Tom Brady, regarded as the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, announces his re-retirement after a 23-year

    At age 45, Tom Brady, regarded as the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, announces his re-retirement after a 23-year career and a record 7 Super Bowl titles with the NE Patriots and TB Buccaneers

  4. Powerful earthquakes strike Turkey and Syria, first with a 7.8 magnitude at 4:15 am, 23 kilometers east of Nurdagi, and

    Powerful earthquakes strike Turkey and Syria, first with a 7.8 magnitude at 4:15 am, 23 kilometers east of Nurdagi, and second with a 7.5 magnitude at 1:24 pm, with many strong aftershocks causing buildings to collapse. The death toll is 53,537 in Turkey and 8,000 in Syria [1]

  5. Key figures in Artificial Intelligence including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak sign an open letter warning the race to dev

    Key figures in Artificial Intelligence including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak sign an open letter warning the race to develop AI systems is out of control and asking for a suspension of at least six months [1] [2]

Events After

  1. A 42-year-old American army veteran plows through a New Year's Eve celebration on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in a ren

    A 42-year-old American army veteran plows through a New Year's Eve celebration on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in a rented pick-up truck; 14 people die, dozens are injured, and the driver is killed in a shoot-out with police [1]

  2. Governor Gavin Newsom says the California wildfires will be one of the worst natural disasters in US history; having bla

    Governor Gavin Newsom says the California wildfires will be one of the worst natural disasters in US history; having blazed through 40,000 acres, damaged about 12,000 structures and killed at least 24 people [1]

  3. Chinese startup DeepSeek launches the AI model R1, with capabilities similar to other AI models but at a fraction of the

    Chinese startup DeepSeek launches the AI model R1, with capabilities similar to other AI models but at a fraction of the cost, prompting experts to call it a “Sputnik moment” [1]

  4. US Army helicopter practicing night vision flying, crashes mid-air into commercial jet, killing all 67 passengers, inclu

    US Army helicopter practicing night vision flying, crashes mid-air into commercial jet, killing all 67 passengers, including dozens of figure skaters, and crew members, over the Potomac River while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C.

  5. A group of 1,000 artists including Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, and Kate Bush, release a lyric-less album to protest a pr

    A group of 1,000 artists including Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, and Kate Bush, release a lyric-less album to protest a proposed British law allowing developers access to copyrighted material to train AI [1]

More from the 2020s

Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maxim

Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maximums, and 53% on doubles to seal his first PDC World Darts Championship in London

Cuba's "day zero" unifies its two currencies by withdrawing the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), alongside steep increases

Cuba's "day zero" unifies its two currencies by withdrawing the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), alongside steep increases in prices and salaries, effectively devaluing the remaining Cuban Peso for the first time since 1959 [1]

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; h

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; he hits 3-pointers to beat the Washington Wizards 120-119 and the previous night the Indiana Pacers 108-106

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 17, 2024?
The Battle of Avdiivka was a major battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk Oblast, during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present). After more than a year and a half of intermittent fighting along the city's outskirts, Russian forces launched an offensive to capture Avdiivka on 10 October 2023, resulting in what was considered one of the bloodiest and fiercest battles of the war. Avdiivka was one of the most fortified settlements in Ukraine and had been described as a "gateway" to the nearby provincial capital of Donetsk.
Why is Ukraine withdraws its troops from the key eastern town of Avdiivka, blaming a... significant?
The Battle of Avdiivka was a major battle between the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for control of Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk Oblast, during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present).

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February 17 in HistoryYear 2024