Ukraine Destroys 50 More Russian Tanks In 1 Day, Avdiivka Attack Purpose Unclear

Ukrainian commanders and their NATO backers remain baffled by continued suicidal Russian attempts to attack Avdiivka. 

The losses in men and materiel already outweigh and strategic or tactical benefits, even if Russia were somehow able to take the ruined town. Nonetheless, the Ukrainians are grateful for the opportunity to degrade Russian capabilities so easily. JL 

Alia Shoiab reports in Business Insider:

The reasons for Russia's focus on Avdiivka are unclear as capturing the city will not open new routes of advance to the rest of Donetsk. Its forces have suffered high losses of tanks and armor but continued to launch assaults on the city. Ukraine forces destroyed nearly 50 Russian tanks in one day, as Russia tried again to capture Avdiivka. It might indicate that Russian military command is poorly prioritizing offensive operations regardless of their cost

Ukraine claimed that its forces destroyed nearly 50 Russian tanks in one day, as Russia tried to capture Avdiivka, a small city in the east of the country.

The Ukrainian General Staff said that in one day of fighting, nearly 900 Russians were killed and 100 units of their armored equipment were also destroyed.

A video shared by Ukraine's military on Friday appeared to show Russian tanks and armor being destroyed as they headed towards the eastern Ukrainian city.

Russia made marginal gains in its renewed push near Avdiivka on Friday, which suggests it is committed to the operation despite high personnel and equipment losses, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said on Friday.

 

The reasons for Russia's focus on Avdiivka are unclear

 

White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters last week that Russia had launched a "renewed offensive" in eastern Ukraine, including around Avdiivka.

Kirby noted that it was unsurprising Russia had begun offensive actions, considering their ultimate goal is to take more Ukrainian territory.

However, the reasons for its focus on Avdiivka are unclear, as the ISW previously noted, that capturing the city will not open new routes of advance to the rest of Donetsk.

Since Russia began its push into Avdiivka on October 10, its forces have suffered high losses of tanks and armor but continued to launch assaults on the city, according to the ISW.

 

It suggests either that Russian forces believe they can take the city, or might indicate that Russian military command is poorly prioritizing offensive operations regardless of their cost, the think tank said.