The town of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region faces a significant threat as Russian forces intensify their offensive, pushing toward what could be one of the most strategic gains in recent months. After 31 months of fighting, Vuhledar, a long-standing fortress for Ukrainian defense, is on the verge of falling under Russian control.
According to Colonel Vladyslav Seleznyov, former head of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) General Staff press service, Vuhledar is now semi-surrounded, with Russian forces reaching the outskirts of the town. Russian troops are advancing from three sides, threatening to encircle the Ukrainian military units. The UK Defence Ministry has noted that this is part of an intensified offensive that has seen Russian forces make gradual, though costly, progress around Vuhledar in recent weeks .
Reports from open-source intelligence and pro-Russian military bloggers suggest that Ukrainian forces are at risk of encirclement, with Russian troops penetrating the eastern parts of Vuhledar and advancing via nearby towns like Vodyane and Prechystivka . The situation has become so precarious that the Ukrainian 72nd Mechanized Brigade, which has defended Vuhledar for over two years, appears to have begun a gradual withdrawal to avoid being trapped.
Russian forces have entered Vuhledar from the east and have secured around 40% of the township. pic.twitter.com/rrwVV61jfm
— KalibratedMaps (@Kalibrated_Maps) September 25, 2024
Vuhledar, a mining town with a pre-war population of 14,000, is located 50 kilometers south of Pokrovsk and serves as a critical roadway junction and logistics hub in the Donetsk region. Its position anchors the junction between the southern and eastern fronts, making it a key defensive point for Ukrainian forces. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) argues that while the loss of Vuhledar would be a symbolic blow, it is unlikely to dramatically alter the overall course of the conflict in the Donetsk region. The ISW suggests that Russian control over Vuhledar would not provide immediate access to vital supply lines or significantly disrupt Ukrainian logistics, as Russia already controls many of the surrounding roads.
Back in January and February 2023, Ukrainian forces managed to repel Russian assaults near Vuhledar. However, after months of relentless attacks, the 72nd Mechanized Brigade is reportedly exhausted and stretched thin.
Despite being well-equipped with T-64 tanks, BMP-2 combat vehicles, and M-109 howitzers, the 72nd cannot hold the line indefinitely. David Axe, a military analyst for Forbes, highlighted that two years of continuous combat without a unit-wide break has taken a toll on Ukrainian Brigade.
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