The enemy ring around the town of Vuhledar, Donetsk region, is shrinking. Russian troops entered the city from the west and south. This was reported by analysts of the DeepState project, Komersant ukrainskyi
reports
“Today, the bastards are publishing not only the shelling of the central part of the city, where the Defence Forces continue to resist, but also the movement of their infantry in the city and inside high-rise buildings,” the report says.
It is noted that in the western part of the city, Russians have put up Russian flags.
on 29 September, DeepState analysts reported that Russians were trying to gain a foothold in high-rise buildings on the outskirts of Vuhledar.
“It appears that when Russian troops began to threaten the city’s flanks last week, the 2,000-strong 72nd Mechanised Brigade, armed with T-64 tanks, BMP-2 armoured personnel carriers and M-109 howitzers, began to slowly withdraw to more secure positions,” writes David Ax, a Forbes analyst.
Military observer Vasyl Pehnyo agrees that the situation is indeed critical. However, information like Forbes can play into the hands of the enemy. Moreover, even the military on the front line cannot give a clear assessment of the situation.
Vuhledar’s role and what will happen after the Ukrainian Armed Forces leave
Vuhledar played a major role in the defence of both Pokrovsk and Kurakhovo, said Oleksandr Musienko, head of the Centre for Military Legal Studies.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to restrain large forces of Russian troops. Thus, the enemy is gaining a certain advantage and they have been consistently advancing from the East, they have managed to break through from the West, the analyst said. The price of this is Russia’s heavy losses,” Oleksandr Musienko
Yes, retreating to favourable positions is extremely important now. Moreover, Ukraine had to draw conclusions after the defence of Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Musienko cites the example of Chasovyi Yar, whose positions are still held after the Ukrainian army withdrew from the town.
“It will be harder to find positions like those in Vuhledar, because they are heights. And heights are the best way to deter the enemy, where there are heights, there is an opportunity to defend,” Oleksandr Musienko
There are also positions beyond Vuhledar that are currently held by our defence forces, Musiyenko adds. They are in different zones, starting from 2 km and further. The expert assured that conclusions will be drawn, and no one will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw into a clear field.