Low discipline and morale and unsuccessful armored attacks are among the reasons for the limited combat capability of the Russian army, which affected the attempts to encircle Avdiivka, explained in the intelligence report of the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.

 In recent days, as noted, Russia continues to give priority to the operation to encircle the city of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region. However, the Russian troops made only minor progress at the cost of heavy losses in armored vehicles. Russia's 10th Tank Regiment probably lost a significant portion of its tanks while trying to encircle Avdiivka from the south, scouts said.

 The regiment is part of the 3rd Army Corps, the first major new formation with which Russia has supported the invasion of Ukraine since August 2022.

 "It appears from numerous open sources that the 3rd Army Corps is particularly plagued by problems with poor discipline and poor morale. Despite the alleged training period in Belarus, the formation still demonstrates limited combat capability," the report said.

 The 10th Tank Regiment's losses, it said, were likely mainly caused by "tactically flawed frontal attacks similar to those seen in other recent failed Russian armored attacks," such as around the town of Vugledar, the analysis added.

 The Institute for the Study of War believes that in order to consolidate the recent limited tactical successes in the Avdiivka area, Russia probably engaged a limited number of "highly qualified" units of the Wagner PMK in the Avdiivka offensive.