The Russian incursion force has successfully taken over the demolished town of Vuhledar, situated in the eastern part of Ukraine, following the pulling back of Kyiv’s soldiers to circumvent the risk of entrapment. This development marks a setback in their effort to safeguard the Donetsk area against a more substantial and superiorly equipped opponent.
The enemy remained committed to overtaking Vuhledar despite incurring considerable damages during the protracted battle, the Ukrainian military reported on Wednesday. Undeterred by the costs, they mobilised backup forces to initiate flanking offensives, thereby stretching the Ukrainian armed forces’ defences to their limits. Such manoeuvres heightened the risk of the city being encircled.
The top brass sanctioned a tactical retreat from Vuhledar with the aim of saving both personnel and military hardware whilst preparing for future operations. Vuhledar, largely laid to waste by Russia’s full-scale invasion carried out in February 2022, finally succumbed to the incessant assault from air-borne explosives and the fast-advancing ground personnel and artillery.
The assumption of command by Russian forces in Vuhledar puts a dent in Ukraine’s mission to safeguard Donetsk. Local administrators reported that the former population of 14,000 has plummeted to around 100 in Vuhledar, a coal mining town. Russia’s control over the town will pose difficulties in managing supplies for Ukraine’s troops defending more strategic cities held by Kyiv in the Donetsk region, such as Pokrovsk, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.
Moscow refrained from immediate commentary on Ukraine’s announcement of its departure from Vuhledar. Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin military bloggers have recently shared visuals on the internet depicting Russian soldiers entering the devastated town and hoisting their flags.
As claimed by Yan Gagin, an advisor to the Donetsk region’s Moscow-installed interim authorities, Russian forces are indeed situated in Vuhledar and have erected the Russian flag on the local government office building. He further stated that although isolated units of Ukraine’s armed forces remain in the city, a complete takeover of the city is not yet confirmed. Presently, cleaning operations are underway, which would require some time to conclude.
Vuhledar, situated approximately 70km south of the minor city and region’s transportation centre, Pokrovsk, seems to be the key point of attack in Russia’s current operation. There is an ongoing investigation in Ukraine following the surfacing of alleged drone footage that presents Russian forces executing 16 captured Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk.
“This is the most significant reported instance of Ukrainian POWs being executed at the battlefront. It further signals that the murders and torture of war captives are not random events. Instead, it’s a conscious strategy of Russia’s military and political command,” stated Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s attorney general.
He further explained, “We’ve commenced an inquiry into this blatant breach of warfare laws and traditions.” “We will find out and bring to justice the criminals responsible for these crimes – from the soldiers executing these deeds to the individuals issuing these unlawful orders, thereby shaping Russia’s tactic of terrorizing and threatening.”