The fierce fighting around the town of Avdijivka outside Ukrainian Donetsk continues. In its daily update on the war, the British Ministry of Defense states that the Russian offensive, which began in mid-October, is progressing slowly.
“During the past week, heavy but incomplete fighting has continued around the town of Avdijivka,” the ministry writes on X.
A large number of soldiers have been sent to the city as part of the offensive. Russia has suffered some of its heaviest losses so far this year in the fighting, according to Britain.
Great Britain: Discontent in the Kremlin
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense draws attention to the fact that Russian nationalist military bloggers are criticizing the army’s tactics in the operation. Dissatisfaction is growing among politicians in the Kremlin.
“Political leaders demand that more territory be taken, but the military cannot create effective offensive measures at the operational level,” writes the ministry.
The American think tank ISW writes in his daily update on the war that remnants of the Wagner Group have recently appeared on the battlefield around Avdijivka. This with reference to military bloggers.
Commander: The situation not good enough
In an interview with one of the Russian commanders, it appears that showing parts of the military around the city “almost entirely consists of former Wagner personnel”, according to the think tank.
The Wagner soldiers are likely to sign contracts that mean they are now part of the Russian army after former Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash outside Moscow.
The commander also notes that the situation at the front line is not good enough, among other things due to heavy losses.