According to British intelligence, a Russian unit established for the Ukrainian war suffered enormous casualties due to a lack of discipline and low morale, with one regiment losing "a large proportion of its tanks."
The 10th Tank Regiment is a component of the 3rd Army Corps, the first major new Russian organization to be raised to support the invasion.
In recent weeks, Moscow has shifted its attention to Avdiivka in the Donetsk region to encircle the Ukrainian forces defending the city after failing to conquer adjacent Bakhmut.
Nonetheless, the 10th Tank Regiment has lost many tanks for modest gains.
Western researchers estimate that Russia has lost at least 1900 tanks since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February of last year.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the substantial losses incurred by Russian soldiers near Avdiivka were caused by repeated tactical mistakes.
The ministry stated on Tuesday in its daily intelligence briefing that the 10th Tank Regiment's casualties were likely caused by tactically incorrect frontal assaults similar to those in other recent failed Russian armoured engagements, such as around the town of Vuhledar.
Soldiers are often drunk
According to reports, the formation has been plagued by poor discipline and morale.
According to Ukrainian reports, newly-formed 3rd Army Corps soldiers are frequently drunk, utilize outmoded weaponry, and undergo inadequate training in Belarus.
In recent months, attempts by Russian forces to employ armour in suicide operations to capture Ukrainian sites have increased.
Since the beginning of the war, Moscow has lost 1900 tanks, including 1147 destroyed and more than 500 taken by Kyiv, according to Oryx. This reputable open-source intelligence organization analyzes battlefield losses.
In the thirteen months since the invasion, Russian forces have lost about 10,000 pieces of military hardware, including armoured vehicles and artillery howitzers, according to its analysts.
The renewed Russian effort to take Avdiivka is feared to produce a "second Bakhmut."
Vitaliy Barabash, the highest-ranking military official in the town, forbade media and humanitarian workers from visiting and ordered public officials to leave earlier this week.
While fighting continued throughout the town on Tuesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged that Russian forces evacuate "every square metre" of Ukrainian land.
"Let me be clear: Russia must withdraw from every square centimetre of Ukrainian territory. Regarding Volodymyr Zelensky's pledge to recapture Crimea, he stated at the second US-led Conference for Democracy on Tuesday that the term withdrawal should not be misconstrued.
"The cessation of Russia's aggression and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity are prerequisites for peace," he stated.
"Ill-advised concessions to the aggressor would only encourage Russia to intensify its attacks on democracy, giving it time to rebuild its military capabilities and resume its offensive against Ukraine."
'Defending entire democratic world'
Wednesday (local time), US Vice President Joseph Biden will formally open the meeting to garner support for Ukraine.
Kuleba stated, "In this fight, we are defending the entire democratic world."
The foreign minister's clarion statement came as it became clear that Germany intends to increase its military assistance to Ukraine significantly.
According to AFP, the parliamentary budget committee is expected to approve an additional €12 billion (NZ$20.8 billion) in spending. The cash will go toward military aid for Kyiv and the replenishment of equipment previously deployed to Ukraine.
The amount dwarfs the €3 billion (NZ$5.2 billion) that Germany has spent thus far on military help for Kyiv.
According to reports, the German army will be able to begin spending the money this year, with additional amounts designated for the following years.
According to a source, the committee will vote particularly on resupplying Ukraine with Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Russia announced on Tuesday that it had successfully shot down a US-supplied long-range glide bomb for the first time.
"Air defence (forces) intercepted... a GLSDB guided rocket," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement, referring to ground-launched small-diameter bombs manufactured jointly by the United States and Sweden.
These weapons range up to 150 kilometres (93 miles), putting Russian positions and supply dumps well behind the front lines in danger.
The Pentagon stated last month that it would provide the bombs to Ukraine as part of a $2.2 billion (NZ$3.5 billion) armaments package.
Ukraine had urged the United States to provide weaponry with a more excellent range than the Himars rockets, which can hit targets approximately 50 miles (80km) distant.
