trying to capture the destroyed city

[Maybo]

Does the following sentence mean He added, however, that Russian forces were "losing men and equipment" (while) trying to capture the destroyed city.


"He added, however, that Russian forces were "losing men and equipment" trying to capture the destroyed city."

Source: Ukraine war: Army claims foothold on bank of Dnipro river in south by Ido Vock and Oleh Chernysh

 

[emsr2d2]

I would say it's more like "in the process of". Using "while" suggests they might be doing two unconnected things (losing men and equipment, and trying to capture the destroyed city) at the same time. Using "in the process of" makes it clear that one is the cause of the other.