Russian forces near Avdiivka suffer increased casualties in past week, Ukraine's intelligence states
Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The losses of Russian occupiers in attempts to capture Avdiivka have significantly increased recently, states the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, in a comment to the Financial Times.
Budanov commented on the information from U.S. intelligence about the losses of the Russian Federation, which was published in mid-December last year. The U.S. claimed that since the beginning of the assaults in the Avdiivka area in October, Russians lost over 13,000 people and more than 220 combat vehicles.
Responding to this information, the head of the Defense Intelligence noted that these figures had significantly increased in recent weeks. However, he did not disclose more detailed statistics.
An unnamed Western official, in a comment to the Financial Times, suggested that in November 2023, Russians were losing an average of a thousand soldiers, wounded and killed, every day.
He also clarified that Ukraine held a "strong defensive position" around Avdiivka.
Fighting for Avdiivka
Russian occupiers intensified their offensive in the Avdiivka region in early October. They are attempting to encircle and then take control of the city.
In response, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding their defense, causing significant losses to the occupiers in both personnel and equipment.
It's worth noting that today, January 19, the spokesperson for the Tavria direction, Oleksandr Shtupun, revealed the tactics of the Russians in the Avdiivka region.
