ISW: Russian forces take minor gains near Avdiivka

On 6 December, Russian forces made a confirmed advance near Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, ISW said in its daily report. Geolocated footage published on 6 December showed that the Russian military “marginally advanced in the industrial zone southeast of Avdiivka.” The Ukrainian General Staff reported on 6 December that Ukrainian forces repelled at least 25 attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Stepove, Sieverne, Tonenke, and Pervomaiske. The Institute for the Study of War said that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Avdiivka on 6 December and recently made a confirmed advance. Geolocated footage published on 5 December showed that Ukrainian forces advanced in Stepove. On 7 December the Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian defenders repelled 34 Russian attacks in the areas east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Severne, Tonenke and Pervomayske in Donetsk Oblast. In its recent report, the British Defense Ministry intel said that Russian military casualties over the last six weeks in its offensive operations against the Avdiivka “have likely seen some of the highest Russian casualty rates of the war so far.” According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian casualties are running at a daily average of 931 per day. Other takeaways from the ISW report:

• Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov credited Western security assistance for empowering Ukrainian forces to liberate half of the territory that Russia occupied since February 2022.
• Russian forces conducted a notably large series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of 5-6 December.
• Russian oil revenues continue to increase due to a concerted Russian effort to skirt the G7 price cap on Russian crude oil and petroleum products.

Read also:

• Russian night attacks kill a truck driver, injure 5 civilians
• US Senate Republicans block $110 billion Ukraine and Israel aid bill
• General Staff: Ukraine repels 29 Russian attacks near Avdiivka and 10 attacks near Bakhmut