Ukraine resists large-scale Russian assault to encircle Avdiivka

Russia has suffered heavy losses in a large-scale armoured assault to encircle a strategically-important town in Ukraine’s eastern Donestsk region, open source analysis has shown. Analysts said Kyiv’s forces took out dozens of tanks and other armoured vehicles during Moscow’s two-day offensive operation to encircle the settlement of Avdiivka. Russian troops attempted a blitzkrieg-styled advance on the town in what was seemingly a shift away from its previous reluctance to use heavy armour in an attempt to make sweeping gains.