Kyiv – Russian forces have already lost at least a brigade of soldiers in their attempt to encircle and capture Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today. According to the Ukrainian presidential office, he made this statement during a phone call with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, discussing the situation in this city in the Ukrainian Donbas region. According to the TASS news agency, a brigade in the Russian army consists of 1,000 to 4,000 soldiers. However, it is unclear whether Zelensky was referring to the equivalent of a brigade in the Russian or any other army. According to Reuters, brigades in different armies can have anywhere between 1,500 to 8,000 soldiers. The occupiers attempted several times to encircle Avdiivka, but our soldiers stopped them each time and pushed them back, causing them significant losses. During these attempts, the enemy lost at least a brigade,“ quoted the Ukrainian presidential office. One of the spokespersons for the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Shchupun, spoke on Thursday about losses of about 5,000 on the Russian side near Avdiivka, according to the Ukrinform news agency. The current offensive in Avdiivka was initiated by the Russians around October 10. However, according to assessments by Western analysts and commentators, they have not been particularly successful so far. White House spokesperson John Kirby stated on Thursday that, according to his information, the Russians have already lost at least 125 armored vehicles since October 11. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its analysis on Thursday confirmed the loss of at least 109 armored vehicles on the Russian side between October 10 and 20, based on satellite imagery. According to Kirby’s earlier statement, the Russians are likely utilizing a strategy in Avdiivka by sending masses of poorly trained soldiers without proper equipment into battle. Avdiivka is considered to be the gateway to Donetsk, which is located nearby and occupied by the Russians. The capture of Avdiivka, according to a previous assessment by the BBC, would allow Russia to shift the front line, making it harder for Ukraine to retake Donetsk.
According to Zelensky, the Russians suffered heavy losses near Avdiivka, they lost an entire brigade.“
