Ukrainian media reported that Russian troops had almost taken Vuhledar, with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) leaving the town in small groups.
Military experts argue that the capture of Vuhledar will allow Russian troops not only to hit the AFU at Kurakhove, Pokrovsk area, but also deprive the Ukrainians of the opportunity to shell Donetsk.
Media outlets reported that Russian artillery and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs) operated on Tuesday night, causing chaos as Ukrainian soldiers retreated. The only road leading from Vuhledar also fell under fire.
However, some small Ukrainian groups remained in the town, presumably barred from retreating. The Telegraph reports that the AFU soldiers are trapped inside Vuhledar, as escape routes have been cut off and food and ammunition supplies are depleting.
Analysts claimed that the Ukrainian command allowed the Russian troops to make high-quality preparations for the assault, which led to the fall of the strategically important bastion.
When the remaining AFU soldiers, forced to take refuge in basements and small alleys, surrendered or were eliminated, the Russian Defence Ministry would officially announce the seizure of Vuhledar, the experts added.
Further steps
The encirclement of the town became possible after the capture of the village of Vodyane and the Pivdennodonbaska 3 coal mine, which provided the AFU with fire control in the north, by Russian troops. The Ukrainians also lost contact with the rear after Russian tanks crossed the Kashlahach River to the west. As a result, Vuhledar lost its logistics links, making its further defence virtually impossible.
The AFU still maintains a second line of defence, but Russian forces now have access to more advantageous offensive points. The capture of Vuhledar will allow the Russians to avoid danger of shelling at the railway junction leading to Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia. It would simplify logistics and make the Russian army more flexible.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities deny the seizure of Vuhledar by Russian troops. However, media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Financial Times, BBC and Reuters, also reported the fall of a key defence town in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
