Russian losses near Avdiivka increase significantly in recent weeks - intel chief Budanov

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, said this in a commentary to the Financial Times.

Budanov was commenting on US intelligence information about Russian losses, which was released in mid-December last year. The US claimed that since the start of the assaults in the Avdiivka area in October, Russia had lost more than 13,000 people and more than 220 military vehicles in this area.

Responding to this information, the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine noted that these figures had increased significantly in recent weeks. He did not disclose any more detailed statistics.

An unnamed Western official told the FT that in November 2023, the Russian forces were losing an average of a thousand soldiers wounded and killed every day.

He also clarified that Ukraine had a "strong defensive position" around Avdiivka.

Fight for Avdiivka

As a reminder, since the beginning of October, the Russian forces have intensified their offensive in the area of Avdiivka. They are trying to surround and then take control of the city.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding the line. They are inflicting very heavy losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian forces.