The town of Vuhledar could fall amid Russian offensive following the gradual weakening of Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) defences in Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk regions), while President Volodymyr Zelensky flies to the United States to present his plan for victory.
Vuhledar is located almost at the junction of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and is the last major defence hub that Russian forces have been unable to breach since the outbreak of the conflict in 2022. However, the situation changed after the AFU command sent combat-ready units to the Kursk region, weakening the defences in the Donbas.
Six months ago, Russian troops took Avdiivka, the second most defence-ready stronghold in the Donbas. Its fall signalled an active Russian advance westward. Today Russians are advancing at the Pokrovsk-Selydove-Myrnohrad line.
The vast Ukrainian steppe, unsuitable to a long defence, begins beyond this line. Vuhledar is the final point of the line, with the town at risk of encirclement after the defences to the east, in the Kostiantynivka area, are breached.
In the Kursk region, Russian troops captured the village of Gordeevka last week, according to Ukrainian media. They also advanced at Pishchane, the Kharkiv region. Russians also moved further into Toretsk.
Early reports of an assault on the local Pivdennodonbaska 3 coal mine escalated to reports of active fighting around Vuhledar. If reports of seizing the town’s territories from the west and other positions are confirmed, Russian troops could seize the town by the end of September, military experts said.
Vuhledar, located on high ground, gives Ukrainian forces an advantage to monitor and control the surrounding areas. It serves not only as an important logistical control point, but also as a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian defence. Past successful repulsions of Russian offensives inspired confidence among the AFU soldiers.
Now the town is engulfed in active hostilities. Russian media published footage of a Russian motorised rifle unit attacking and landing a paratrooper in the direction of Novoukrainka. The troops advanced up to 4 kilometres north of the Prechystivka-Pavlivka line.
Resentment within Verkhovna Rada
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) MP Mariana Bezuhla again criticised the actions and decisions of the AFU command. In her social media account, she released a post in which she blasted the fortifications and aggressive mobilisation policy.
Returning once again from the Donetsk region. There are no fortifications behind Chasiv Yar, Konstiantynivka is not prepared for defence. Kurakhove as well. Selydove was absolutely unprepared for defence within the city, now they are feverishly trying to do something.
A Ukrainian resident in the frontline town of Myrnohrad (formerly Dymytrov), the Donetsk region, shared footage of abandoned fortifications.
And this is how the tetrahedrons that were supposed to fortify Pokrovsk look like. This is now Myrnohrad. Here it is. In short, a lot [of them].
Bezuhla noted that newly created “zombie” brigades, made up of mobilised people who did not participate in the battles and flee out of fear and lack of training, are being sent to Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. The mostly mobilised officers of these brigades “do not know elementary things,” she added.
The elite of the Ukrainian troops have been taken away from here! At the same time, thousands of servicemen stay in the rear, in numerous piled-up headquarters and bloated units (…) Mr President, they are mocking you and each and every one of us. Save the Armed Forces of Ukraine, save us and give us hope.
Zelensky in the US
Amid the ongoing incursion into Russia’s Kursk region and active fighting in the Donbas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting the United States to present his victory plan, according to CNN.
He visited a munitions factory in Pennsylvania on Sunday, kicking off his important visit to the United States. Before sharing the plan with presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, he will introduce it to incumbent head of state Joe Biden.
This fall will determine the future of this war. Together with our partners, we can strengthen our positions as needed for our victory – a shared victory for a truly just peace.
Zelensky is pushing Ukraine’s allies to ease restrictions on weapons in order to implement the plan. He also blamed allies’ hesitancy to authorise such use on fears of escalation, but said he hoped his arguments would be heard during the visit.
We do have long-range weapons. But let’s just say not the amount we need.
The Ukrainian leader plans to travel to New York, where he will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and meet with leaders of the Global South, the G7, Europe and international organisations. He will then travel to Washington for talks with Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
As I told you, the plan includes not only what is needed from Biden today. But it also includes the fact that we will have a different situation after November. That is, there will be a new president in the United States. And we need to talk to each of the candidates about their perception of this.
Harris expressed her support for Ukraine and NATO allies, indicating that she would continue Biden’s policy of supporting Ukraine if elected president. Meanwhile, in a recent debate, Trump declined to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war.
