Counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing Avdiivka: Russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, IFVs

counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing avdiivka: russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, ifvs

Members of Ukraine’s National Guard Omega Special Purpose fire an SPG-9 anti-tank grenade launcher toward Russian troops in the front line town of Avdiivka. RFE/RL/SERHII NUZHNENKO

  • The battle of Avdiivka proved very costly for Russia.
  • At least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded, say Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka this weekend.

Russia suffered huge losses in the battle for the strategic town of Avdiivka before ultimately capturing it.

Ukrainian troops withdrew from the embattled town this weekend after intense fighting throughout the winter.

The battle for Avdiivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, intensified in October and was a key target for the Russian military.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, wrote on Facebook that he had decided to pull out of the region “to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen.”

On February 17, Russia said they had taken “full control” of Avdiivka, and videos emerged of Russian flags being planted across the city.

However, Russia paid a heavy price for the victory.

Russia lost more than 400 tanks and armored vehicles and “likely thousands of personnel,” per the UK Ministry of Defense.

‘Meat wave’ assaults

Ukraine claims more than 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed, capturing Avdiivka.

“The losses of Russians around Avdiivka are colossal. My colleagues and I did the calculations and pulled up our archival records from the beginning of the year,” said Dmitry Likhovy, Ukrainian military spokesman.

He also said that at least 30,000 Russian soldiers had been injured in the battle, per The Telegraph.

The Ukrainian figures could not be verified, but the Kremlin’s willingness to sacrifice men and equipment in infamous ‘meat wave’ assaults, leaving the Avdiivka battlefield littered with frozen Russian corpses, has been widely reported.

counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing avdiivka: russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, ifvs

Ukrainian footage of fighting near Avdiivka. 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian figures are in line with Western estimates. A declassified American intelligence assessment in December spoke of staggeringly high Russian losses.

Russia has suffered more than 13,000 troops killed and wounded and lost more than 220 combat vehicles while fighting near Avdiivka and other cities, Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said, per The New York Times.

The fighting for Avdiivka only became more ferocious in the two months after the US report became public.

The White House had warned on Thursday that Russia could take the town, blaming a lack of artillery ammunition caused in part by Republicans blocking more aid to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia pummelled the outnumbered Ukrainian forces with artillery and hundreds of gliding bombs.

There are no figures on the losses Ukraine has suffered in the bloody battle, though they to could also be significant.

Avdiivka, which was once home to 32,000 residents, was the site of a battle against pro-Russian separatists in 2017, part of the war in Donbas, and has been on the frontline of the fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

News Related

OTHER NEWS

Lawsuit seeks $16 million against Maryland county over death of pet dog shot by police

A department investigator accused two of the officers of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for entering the apartment without a warrant, but the third officer was cleared of wrongdoing, the suit says. Read more »

Heidi Klum shares rare photo of all 4 of her and Seal's kids

Heidi Klum posted a rare picture with husband Tom Kaulitz and her four kids: Leni, 19, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14, having some quality family time. Read more »

European stocks head for flat open as markets struggle to find momentum

This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets. European markets are heading for a flat open Tuesday, continuing lackluster sentiment seen at the start of the week in the region ... Read more »

Linda C. Black Horoscopes: November 28

Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (11/28/23). This year energizes your work and health. Faithful domestic routines provide central support. Shift directions to balance your work and health, before adapting around team ... Read more »

Michigan Democrats poised to test ambitious environmental goals in the industrial Midwest

FILE – One of more than 4,000 solar panels constructed by DTE Energy lines a 9.37-acre swath of land in Ann Arbor Township, Mich., Sept. 15, 2015. Michigan will join ... Read more »

Gaza Is Falling Into ‘Absolute Chaos,’ Aid Groups Say

A shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has allowed a surge of aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza, but humanitarian groups and civilians in the enclave say the convoys aren’t ... Read more »

Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families to march together in anti-hate vigil

Demonstrators march against the rise of antisemitism in the UK on Sunday – SUSANNAH IRELAND/REUTERS Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families will march together as part of an anti-hate vigil on ... Read more »
Top List in the World