Ukrainian Army successfully defends against Russian assault near Avdiivka

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the Ukrainian army repelled a Russian assault near the town of Tonenke, located in the Donetsk Oblast. Satellite imagery shows a significant amount of destroyed equipment, indicating that this was likely the largest mechanized attack by Russian forces since the start of the fighting near Avdiivka.

The ISW, citing a source in the Ukrainian army, reported that on March 30, the Russian army used 36 tanks and 12 infantry fighting vehicles in the assault near Tonenke. Satellite imagery with geolocation data from March 31 shows a large number of destroyed and damaged Russian equipment and tanks. The source reported that the Ukrainians destroyed 12 tanks and eight infantry fighting vehicles during the assault, and that the Russians were unable to breach the Ukrainian defensive line.

Experts assess that the repelling of a battalion-sized mechanized attack may indicate that the operational reserves accumulated by the Russian forces in this sector are not capable of ensuring the advance of the occupation army to the west in the near future.

Ukrainian defense stalls Russian advance

The Washington-based think tank notes that this was the largest Russian mechanized attack since the start of the offensive on Avdiivka in October 2023. Its repelling shows that the Ukrainians are capable of defending themselves against the expected large summer offensive of the enemy.

The effective defense against a large Russian attack on a key sector of the front, despite the challenges posed by a lack of equipment and human resources, indicates that the Ukrainian forces can achieve significant results on the battlefield when they are adequately equipped.

The successful defense of Avdiivka is a significant victory for the Ukrainian army and a major setback for the Russian forces. It shows that the Ukrainians are capable of defeating the Russians in large-scale mechanized warfare. This victory will likely boost Ukrainian morale and give them confidence in their ability to defeat the Russians in the coming summer offensive.