"Russian Offensive: The Fall of Avdiivka and Ukraine's Desperate Defense"

Ukraine claims that Russia's offensive on Avdiivka resulted in more than 17,000 Russian soldiers killed and 30,000 wounded, surpassing the total casualties of the Soviet Union's 10-year war in Afghanistan. Western analysts suggest that Russian casualties in the nearly 2-year-old war increased significantly after the encirclement of Avdiivka. The high death toll in this conflict underscores the significant resources Moscow has dedicated to its military. Both sides are secretive about their casualty counts, but Ukraine estimates that over 400,000 Russian soldiers have been taken out in Ukraine since February 2022.