The 72nd Mechanized Brigade, named after the Black Zaporozhians, a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, says its soldiers continue to defend Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast despite reports on social media claiming a retreat from the city, according to Babel.
Vuhledar is a strategically important city on high ground that the Russians want to use for further advances and offensives.
The defense of Vuhledar began in November 2022. According to reports from the General Staff, fighting is ongoing in the Vuhledar area.
“So far, despite heavy assaults and difficult circumstances, we are holding our position,” said a 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade soldier.
Meanwhile, Ruslan Mikula, co-founder of the Deep State analytical project, stated that how long the city can hold depends on the pressure the Russians apply from the flanks and how well Ukrainian forces can maintain their defense. He says it could last “from a few days to a few weeks.”
“We are also noticing the enemy’s advance within the city itself. There are already videos of Russian assault troops on the outskirts of Vuhledar. Therefore, given this dynamic, the city’s loss is only a matter of time,” Mikula stated.
He added that the Russian army is trying to encircle the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the city.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claims that they have “defeated” formations from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, the 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade, and the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlements of Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, and Zolota Nyva.
Russian war correspondents report that Moscow forces have captured the eastern part of Vuhledar and that fighting is approaching the city center.
On 25 September, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, Vadym Filashkin, stated that Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were attempting to break into Vuhledar, but Ukrainian forces were destroying the saboteurs. On the outskirts of the city, Ukrainian soldiers have destroyed “a massive amount of military equipment,” he claimed.
According to Filashkin, Vuhledar is controlled by the Ukrainian army, although the Russians are making advances. Around 100 people remain in the city, refusing to evacuate. Delivering humanitarian aid to them is impossible, as the Russians are shelling all routes.
Previously, Russian war correspondents said that Russian forces were trying to encircle Vuhledar in a semi-circle. Meanwhile, on 24 September, the Ukrainian DeepState analytical project wrote that the situation in Vuhledar was critical—the city was facing complete encirclement.
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