Tanks in urban warfare: Putin is threatened with a new catastrophe like in Grozny. Russia lost more than 211 vehicles around Avdiivka alone between the start of its offensive on October 10 and the end of the year.
By driving these wedges into Ukrainian-held areas, the Russians appear to be trying to create small pockets, small encirclements. In order to avoid encirclement, Ukrainian troops may have to gradually withdraw from several positions and straighten their lines, most likely in the southern part of the ruined city.