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It was planned as one of the largest tank attacks of the entire war. But the Russian attack on Tonen'ke goes differently than expected – and leads to losses.
Avdiivka – In mid-February, Russian forces captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region and are advancing westward. On Saturday (March 30), Russia launched one of the most extensive tank offensives in the Ukraine war, which has now lasted more than two years.
Plan: A total of 48 tanks and armored vehicles were to attack Ukrainian positions west of the village of Donenke. It was to be carried out by the 6th Panzer Regiment, considered the “breakthrough division” of the Russian 90th Armored Division, according to an American news magazine. Forbes reported. According to the Center for Ukrainian Defense Strategies, the brigade “advanced slightly northwest of the village.” But the attack goes differently than planned.
Because the column of the 6th tank brigade, consisting of 36 T-90 tanks and 12 BMP fighting vehicles with hundreds of soldiers, ran into a minefield. They were then attacked by Ukrainian paratroopers with anti-tank missiles and explosive-laden Echo drones.
“Enemy equipment column destroyed” – Russia lost a large number of tanks at Donenke
A total of four Russian tanks and two armored personnel carriers were destroyed as a result of the regiment's defense, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a text message service on Monday. X (formerly Twitter). In a separate statement on Monday, the 25th Airborne Division also released footage and said its fighters had “destroyed a column of enemy equipment”. In the 30-second video, several vehicles trying to escape the fire can be seen being hit by multiple explosions.
The Institute for War Studies The US think tank (ISW) described the Russian attack on Donenke as Moscow's “first battalion-strength mechanized offensive” since the Kremlin launched its offensive on Avdiivka in October 2023. and journalism Newsweek According to Ukrainian journalist Yuri Budusov, the advance was described as “one of the biggest tank attacks in months”.
Russia continues to launch large-scale offensives using tanks and other armored vehicles. According to Ukrainian officials, three weeks of fighting for the southern Ukrainian village of Wuhleder in the first weeks of last year resulted in “the largest tank battle of the war so far”. The New York Times Announced in early March 2023.
Russia can still conduct operations “above the battalion level” in Avdiivka
Ukrainian Association analysts can provide information on the situation in the war zone around Avdiivka Predictive Intelligence According to Make “two important observations”: “First, Russian forces in the area lack the capability or sufficient resources to conduct operations above the battalion level.” Russia's ability to field a reinforced tank battalion continues to pose a threat to Ukrainian security.
A second observation Predictive Intelligence But Ukraine still has some hope. “The 6th Brigade is said to have taken advantage of gaps in the defenses to advance further into Ukrainian territory,” the group said. In other words, the 90th Division may have realized that it was not progressing as planned – and became impatient and careless. She positioned her breakthrough brigade before breaking through the Ukrainian lines.
Despite Ukrainian efforts, Russian forces have advanced southwest and west of Avdiivka in recent days, ISW said in its latest assessment. Additionally, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are struggling to fully recruit and supply their frontline positions. Not only are they still waiting for more military aid from the United States, but also for Kiev to pass a new mobilization law that would authorize the Ukrainian armed forces to call up tens of thousands of new soldiers. (fh)
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