"They just overpowered us," an officer in the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, one of the units defending Vuhledar, told The Washington Post. The officer said Russia's access to Starlink was a key factor in the loss of the city.
Russia’s invading army is racing against the weather clock, trying to seize yet more towns in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region before the ground gets muddy this autumn and temperatures later plunge. The coal mining town of Toretsk is on the verge of falling to Moscow’s forces, an
Key developments on Oct. 8: * 'Fights taking place at every building entrance' as Russia enters eastern Toretsk, military says * France to deliver first Mirage 2000 jets to Ukraine in early 2025 * Russian forces outnumbered Ukrainians tenfold in battle for Vuhledar, commander says * North Korea likely sending soldiers to Ukraine to
"That is, the enemy's forces had superiority in tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, anti-tank weapons, and personnel," said Oleksandr Okhrimenko, commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade.
Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko was appointed the new commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade after the transfer of his predecessor, Ivan Vinnik, the unit said.
The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur explains the top stories of the week, from the fall of Vuhledar to the rising Russian casualties. Also, how might the conflict in the Middle East impact the war in Ukraine?
The elite 155th and 40th marine brigades of the Russian Armed Forces, also known as the Black Berets, were involved in the storming of the city, supported by armored vehicles.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 3 that the decision of the Ukrainian military to withdraw from the front-line town of Vuhledar was "absolutely correct" as it helped save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
Key developments on Oct. 2: * Ukrainian forces withdraw from Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast * Ukraine aims to boost ballistic missiles, long-range arms production in 2025, Umerov says * 1.5 million Ukrainian children at risk of being deported to Russia, ombudsman says * 589 civilians killed in Ukraine in summer 2024 by Russia's
"The higher command authorized a manoeuvre to withdraw units from Vuhledar in order to save personnel and military equipment and take up a position for further operations," Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces said on Oct. 2.
Key developments on Oct. 1: * Russian forces enter Vuhledar, situation 'extremely difficult,' governor says * Russia attempts to capture new positions in Zaporizhzhia sector, preparing small-scale assaults, military says * Ukraine doesn't need US permission to strike back at Russia with homemade weapons, State Department says * Russian forces execute 16 Ukrainian
"The fighting is going on within the town, so it is almost impossible to bring in humanitarian aid," Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin said.
Key developments on Sept. 30: * Russia aims to draft 133,000 Russians during new round of fall conscription * Russia intensifies attacks on recaptured Vovchansk plant, uses 'maximum range of weapons,' military says * Commander of Ukraine's 72nd Brigade transferred amid battle for Vuhledar * Some details of Ukraine's victory plan will
According to Operational Command "North," Vinnik was transferred "for the purpose of promotion and to transfer combat experience."
Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Brigade on Sept. 26 refuted reports that it was retreating from the embattled town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. The brigade released a video purportedly from Vuhledar saying it had been filmed there earlier in the day. "We want to dispel all doubts and the pseudo-experts' thoughts
Key developments on Sept. 25: * Russia preparing to attack 3 nuclear plants in Ukraine, Zelensky tells UN * No Russian troops on Vuhledar outskirts, governor claims * Around 20 Russian soldiers captured during operation to recapture Vovchansk aggregate plant, military intelligence claims * Ukraine has 'extensive' 3-year plan for drone, ground robotics production,
Russian troops have not yet reached the outskirts of the embattled town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Sept. 25. "There is no enemy on the outskirts of the town yet. Sabotage and reconnaissance groups are coming in, but our defenders are trying to knock them
The long-embattled town of Vuhledar, key to Ukrainian defenses in the southeastern part of Donetsk Oblast, is under threat of encirclement and is being "razed to the ground," according to reports on Sept. 24. Located 50 kilometers south of Pokrovsk, the strategic roadway junction, Vuhledar is often called a "fortress"
Russian forces are continuously storming the town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, with the situation remaining "steadily tense," an infantry commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, known as "Oscar," told Suspilne on Sept. 24.
Key developments on Sept. 10: * Russia claims capture of Donetsk Oblast village near Vuhledar, Kyiv doesn't confirm * Moscow claims Ukraine launched 'massive' 144-drone attack on Russia, casualties reported * Blinken, Lammy to visit Ukraine as US confirms Iranian missile shipments to Russia * Ukraine identifies Russian general suspected of ordering strike on
Moscow's troops have recently ramped up their offensive near Vuhledar in southern Donetsk Oblast. The loss of Vodiane, lying just some 5 kilometers from the town, would increase the risk of Vuhledar's encirclement.
While the Russian advance on Pokrovsk had slightly slowed down in recent days, Vuhledar, in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast, became a new focal point of the ongoing Russian offensive. Located 50 kilometers south of Pokrovsk, Vuhledar is often referred to as a "fortress" among the military and has
Key developments on Nov. 2: * Zelensky: Russia suffers heavy losses near Vuhledar * Ukraine destroyed at least 4 Russian surface-to-air missile launchers in one week, UK Defense Ministry reports * U.S. sanctions 200 entities and individuals for participating in the Russian war effort * North Korea likely provided Russia with short-range ballistic
Russian forces attempted to advance in the Vuhledar direction in Donetsk Oblast but were fought off by Ukrainian defenders, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 2.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have advanced up to 1 kilometer near Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, a spokesperson of the Tauric Forces reported on June 15.
Photos published by Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko on March 26 show the magnitude of destruction in Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast.
Russia's Ministry of Defense has been "insistent in its drive for success" in Vulhedar, partially due to its competition with Wagner Group, which achieved tactical success in the Bakhmut sector, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on March 16.
Russia may attempt to launch another counteroffensive in Vuhledar but is unlikely to make significant gains due to issues with military personnel and ammunition supply, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the New York Times article published on March 1, the Ukrainian forces have destroyed at least 130 tanks and armored personnel carriers over a three-week fight in Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast.
The Feb. 23 added that Ukrainian forces have maintained resupply routes around Bakhmut despite Russia's attempts to encircle the city. The fighting has been particularly intense over the past 48 hours.
The brigade totaled about 5,000 soldiers, whose members were killed, wounded, or captured, according to Ukrainian military official Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, recent footage shows that the Russian forces fighting near Vuhledar engage in "highly dysfunctional tactics" indicative that Russia’s 155th Naval Infantry Brigade is likely comprised of poorly trained mobilized personnel than of poor command.
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