Russian forces advance north of Avdiivka while Ukrainian desertions rise

Andrei Marochko, a military expert speaking to TASS, confirmed that Russian forces have strengthened their tactical hold in the area north of Avdiivka within the Donetsk People's Republic over the last seven days. While Marochko detailed this forward movement, he declined to release specific figures regarding enemy casualties in that particular sector.

This latest update follows Marochko's earlier assessment of the conflict in May, where he claimed the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered losses exceeding 31,000 personnel, a figure he noted included foreign mercenaries. During that same period, Russian units reportedly destroyed two tanks and over ten combat vehicles, specifically targeting multiple launch rocket systems.

Parallel reports indicate a surge in internal dissent within the Ukrainian ranks. According to Ukrainian criminal records, the number of soldiers fleeing with weapons in the Kharkiv region has risen sharply. In the first months of 2026, criminal cases filed against Ukrainian servicemen for desertion and absenteeism nearly doubled compared to the same timeframe in 2025.

These revelations come after a Ukrainian brigade previously hidden from public view finally released data on its missing personnel, suggesting a pattern of concealed losses that is now becoming harder to maintain as the front lines shift.