Russian troops have claimed control of Vuhledar, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine, amid ongoing conflict escalation.
Ukrainian troops who are still resisting in some parts of Vuhledar city have been told to retreat for fear of being hedged in, as confirmed by Ukraine’s eastern military command on Wednesday.
Russia had sought to capture this city for over two years, to advance north and access key transport hubs like Kurakhove and Pokrovsk.
Reports confirmed that two soldiers from the 72nd brigade who left the city before the final assault and repositioned nearby have withdrawn from the city.
Ukrainian soldiers were forced to escape Vuhledar on foot in recent days, as evacuation by other means was impossible, according to an anonymous machine gunner.
It was reported by another soldier, Roman, that many were wounded or killed by Russian drones and artillery during their retreat, and many others remain missing.
Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Moscow has launched numerous attempts to capture the city, all of which failed until now. Last year, one of the largest tank battles took place there.
Recently, instead of direct frontal assaults, the Russian military shifted to its preferred tactic of flanking maneuvers to encircle the target. Last month, they captured the villages of Prechystivka to the west and Vodyane to the east, completing a pincer movement.
Moscow’s overwhelming advantage in weapons and manpower, allowed them to breach Ukrainian defensive lines along the flanks and advance toward Vuhledar, with forces estimated at a ratio of seven-to-one.
The fate of the city was sealed when Russian forces effectively cut off the last remaining supply route, the road from Vuhledar to Bohoyavlenka. Russian troops advanced so close that their artillery and kamikaze drones targeted anything moving on the road.
“We tried to send supplies, organise evacuation of our wounded and dead soldiers but without any success,” Roman said. “We lost a number of vehicles and then had to stop [such operations].”
According to Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin, by Tuesday, only around 100 civilians remained in Vuhledar, down from a pre-war population of 14,000.
“Thank God, we evacuated all the children. Regarding the 107 people who are still there, it’s difficult to reach them and bring them humanitarian aid, drinking water, medicine because an active stage of war is under way.”
Ukrainian defense lines were shattered by Russia’s aerial bombs and thermobaric weapons, including the Solntsepek heavy flamethrower, along with drones and multiple rocket launchers.
Confronted with this overwhelming assault, retreating from certain positions became inevitable, Roman explained. “You either die or retreat.”
Military officials from the 72nd brigade and Ukraine’s operational command in the area declined to comment when approached by reporters.
In latest updates, Ukraine’s General Staff remained silent on the situation in Vuhledar.
Wednesday morning’s briefing only noted that “the enemy launched unsuccessful attacks on our positions in the direction of Bohoyavlenka,” with no mention of Vuhledar.
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