In what has been characterized as a significant setback for Russian forces, a battalion-sized mechanized assault near Avdiivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, resulted in the loss of 12 tanks and eight infantry fighting vehicles. The Institute for the Study of War reported that the large-scale operation, involving elements of the Russian 6th Tank Regiment from the 90th Tank Division, indicated the high priority placed on the effort by Russian military command.
The assault, which took place on March 30, marks the first such battalion-sized mechanized assault since Russian efforts to seize Avdiivka began in late October 2023. Geolocated imagery from March 31 showed a significant number of Russian armored vehicles and tanks destroyed and damaged along a road northwest of Tonenke, west of Avdiivka.
Despite Ukrainian forces suffering from munitions shortages, their ability to fend off such an aggressive and well-equipped attack provides a positive indicator for Ukraine’s capacity to defend against future large-scale Russian assaults. This resilience comes at a time when the US aid package, critical for replenishing Ukraine’s military supplies, has encountered political roadblocks in the US Congress, resulting in a delay in support.
The operational defeat of the Russian force at Tonenke underscores the persistent challenges faced by Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine. Russia, which has used hypersonic Zircon missiles in attacks against Kyiv and has escalated its long-range bombardment across Ukraine, continues to seek advantages through the use of advanced weaponry and by targeting critical infrastructure. Yet, the failed assault near Avdiivka illustrates the limitations of such strategies when confronted with determined defensive positions.
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