During intense fighting in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Russian troops appear to be partially expending their resources. On Tuesday, an offensive was launched on the Ukrainian city located to the north of the eastern Ukrainian metropolis of Donetsk. This marks one of the largest attack movements since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022.
Reports indicate that at least three Russian battalions, consisting of 6,000 to 9,000 soldiers, tanks, and vehicles, are involved in the fighting. Additionally, there are airstrikes and sustained artillery fire from the Russian side. According to the Ukrainian defense forces, more than 100 Russian tanks and over 180 armored vehicles have been destroyed, as reported by n-tv.de. It is also alleged that nearly 3,000 Russian soldiers have lost their lives. A Ukrainian commander reported that the Russians advanced into battle in a long convoy, a tactic that had previously failed during the advance on Kyiv last year.
These claims have not been independently verified and/or confirmed, and therefore, they should be regarded with caution. In times of war, conflicting parties may find it advantageous to deliberately spread misinformation to strengthen their own position or weaken that of the opponent.
Image: kremlin.ru, 2018 inauguration of Vladimir Putin 53, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)
