Downward Angle Symbol A symbol in the form of an angle pointing downwards. A Ukrainian soldier fires on the Russian position. Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu via Getty Images
- Russian forces carry out “flesh attacks” in Avdiivka, eastern Ukraine.
- The tactic is to send large numbers of troops to attack on foot.
- A Ukrainian commander told CNN that they could kill 40 to 70 Russian infantrymen at once.
As CNN reported, Russian forces repeatedly carried out large-scale infantry “flesh attacks” on the city of Avdiivka, a Ukrainian commander said.
In the attacks, Russian troops flooded the eastern Ukrainian city with almost no cover, allowing Ukrainian drones to easily take them out, the report said.
CNN published footage of what appeared to be such an attack on exposed Russian soldiers, as well as images of “dead and dying” soldiers who took part in some of the attacks.
“They are attacking with large numbers of troops,” “Teren,” an artillery reconnaissance commander with Ukraine’s 110th mechanized brigade, told CNN.
“One attack after another, non-stop. If we kill 40 to 70 of them with drones one day, the next day they will renew their forces and continue to attack.”
Russia has become increasingly reliant on high-risk frontal attacks or “human wave attacks” to try to overwhelm Ukrainian positions.
But the soldiers who carry out such attacks are often former prisoners and reservists, Nataliya Humenyuk, press secretary of the Joint Command South of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in an interview, the Kyiv Post reported. Many of these soldiers are also poorly trained and inadequately equipped.
Russia's elite marines and paratroopers, on the other hand, refuse orders to take part in these attacks because of the high risks involved, Humenyuk said.
Although Ukrainian forces say they have largely held off Russian attacks, they say the Russians have more weapons and personnel, according to CNN.
“We need more people, more military, more equipment. We need more ammunition, more drones. Unfortunately we don't have the necessary crowd to win. We need a lot,” “Teren” told CNN.
Ukraine is suffering from labor shortages and increasing fears of a decline in military aid.
However, Russia has a population more than three times larger than Ukraine and a much larger supply of soldiers and weapons to send to the front.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces have been desperately trying to take Avdiivka since October. The campaign has resulted in huge losses of both personnel and vehicles.