Russia lost at least a brigade trying to capture Avdiivka - Zelensky

KYIV, Ukraine

Russia has lost at least a brigade of troops trying to besiege and capture Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast during its latest offensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 27.

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery on Russian positions on the front-line city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, on July 27, 2023.

A brigade in the Russian army can include between 2,000 and 8,000 personnel, according to open sources.

"Russia will continue trying to occupy the entire Donbas," Zelensky told U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a phone call. "The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time, our soldiers stopped them and pushed them back, causing painful losses."

Russia has been intensifying its attacks against Avdiivka, a front-line town a few kilometers north of occupied Donetsk, for several weeks. Moscow has reportedly thrown in extensive force in an effort to encircle the town, suffering heavy losses in manpower and equipment in the process.

Except for the situation on the battlefield, Zelensky and Sunak discussed further support for Ukraine, the country's air defense needs, and the security situation in the Black Sea, according to the Presidential Office.

Zelensky assured Sunak that the temporary Black Sea corridor established by Ukraine after Russia terminated the UN-brokered grain deal would continue operating "despite all threats." The two leaders discussed further steps in implementing insurance for civilian ships.

Ukraine's president also thanked Sunak for the U.K.'s £100 million (about $122 million) military aid package for Ukraine announced on Oct. 11.

The package includes a variety of military equipment that can be used to breach minefields, as well as the provision of the multi-use MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin, a remote-controlled air-defense system that also has the capability to defend against ground threats.