The Russians struck strongly, but the Ukrainians responded fiercely

Having lost a third of their tanks, the Russians did not advance, writes Forbes citing military sources.

"When the smoke cleared, the Russians left - on the road west of the ruins of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine - a third of their tanks," the text states.

Forbes noted that in the weeks leading up to Saturday's attack, the Russians used infantry to advance west of the city. The reason is that they lacked vehicles after suffering heavy losses during the attack on Avdiivka in mid-February.

The situation has changed in recent days. Russian troops again used armored vehicles, including tanks, on the Avdiivka front. As many as 36 tanks and 12 infantry fighting vehicles from Russia's 6th Tank Regiment, part of the 90th Tank Division, launched an attack along the road leading from Russian-held Tonenke to the Ukrainian-held village of Umansk, two miles west.

The Ukrainian 25th Brigade spotted the convoy and responded strongly, hitting 12 tanks and 8 infantry fighting vehicles.

The day after the attack, Ukraine's Center for Defense Strategies described the fighting around Tonenke as "positional," meaning neither side had made significant progress.

Forbes suggests that despite problems with the supply of basic ammunition, Ukrainian brigades are still capable of mounting a fierce defense using landmines, artillery, anti-tank missiles and drones.