{"id":36762,"date":"2024-10-02T04:49:13","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T08:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russians-claim-key-city-of-vuhledar-in-ukraines-east\/02\/10\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-10-02T04:49:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T08:49:13","slug":"russians-claim-key-city-of-vuhledar-in-ukraines-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russians-claim-key-city-of-vuhledar-in-ukraines-east\/02\/10\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Russians claim key city of Vuhledar in Ukraine&#8217;s east"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Russian troops are now in almost complete control of the eastern city of Vuhledar, which Ukrainian forces have been defending since the beginning of Moscow\u2019s full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts from DeepState, a prominent group that monitors frontline developments in Ukraine, report that Russians forces have captured the city, although that has not been confirmed officially.<\/p>\n<p>For more than two years Russia has been trying to take this city in order to advance further north and reach regional transportation hubs such as Kurakhove and Pokrovsk.<\/p>\n<p>Pro-Kremlin military bloggers have now posted several videos showing Russian soldiers with flags on rooftops of different buildings in Vuhledar.<\/p>\n<p>Donetsk regional authorities confirmed on Tuesday that Russian troops had almost reached the city centre, and some reports said Ukrainian forces are still hanging on in some districts.<\/p>\n<p>The BBC has spoken to two soldiers from the 72nd brigade who managed to leave the city before the final assault and take up new positions in the same area. They claim that their troops have withdrawn from the city.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past few days Ukrainian soldiers had to find their own way out of Vuhledar by foot as it was impossible to evacuate them otherwise, a machine-gunner who wished to remain anonymous said.<\/p>\n<p>Many were wounded and killed by Russian drones and artillery as they tried to leave, another soldier, Roman, says. Many more are still missing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 1280px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox caas-img-loader portrait\" style=\"padding-bottom:133%\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/TNTj3TA4UqG6AhCmzyaXQQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0zMTk4\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/280bd2c87a9bf4fbf1f4a89e5dbc4625\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Map of eastern Ukraine\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/JYOZn4.CmhAEJMwLKTPqQA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyODA-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/280bd2c87a9bf4fbf1f4a89e5dbc4625\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\"><span class=\"openArrows icon\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\"><path d=\"M12.372 0.92C12.372 0.414 12.782 0.004 13.287 0.004L21 0L20.996 7.712C20.996 8.217 20.586 8.628 20.08 8.628C19.574 8.628 19.164 8.217 19.164 7.712V3.183L12.337 10.011L10.988 8.663L17.816 1.835H13.287C12.782 1.835 12.372 1.425 12.372 0.92ZM1.835 17.816L8.663 10.988L10.012 12.337L3.183 19.164H7.712C8.218 19.164 8.627 19.574 8.627 20.08C8.627 20.586 8.218 20.995 7.712 20.995L0 21L0.004 13.287C0.004 12.782 0.414 12.372 0.92 12.372C1.425 12.372 1.835 12.782 1.835 13.287V17.816Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\">[BBC]<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Moscow has launched numerous attacks to seize the city since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, but they all failed up until now. One of the biggest tank battles took place there last year.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of launching frontal assaults, the Russian army recently switched to its favourite tactic \u2013 advancing along the flanks to surround the target. Last month they seized the village of Prechistivka to the west and Vodyane to the east to complete a pincer movement.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow\u2019s enormous advantage in weapons and troops &#8211; some soldiers have estimated the ratio of forces as seven to one &#8211; enabled them to break through Ukrainian defence lines along the flanks and approach Vuhledar.<\/p>\n<p>It became clear that the city was doomed when the Russians effectively cut off the only remaining lifeline route \u2013 the road from Vuhledar to Bohoyavlenka. Russian troops advanced so close that their artillery and kamikaze drones targeted anyone and anything moving on that road.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe tried to send supplies, organise evacuation of our wounded and dead soldiers but without any success,\u201d Roman said. \u201cWe lost a number of vehicles and then had to stop [such operations].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>By Tuesday, about 100 civilians remained in Vuhledar, out of a pre-war population of 14,000, according to Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thank God, we evacuated all children. Regarding the 107 people who are still there, it&#8217;s difficult to reach them and bring them humanitarian aid, drinking water, medicine because an active stage of war is under way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 540px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:56%\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/SfPs3ezo5ORIJEn2K.GXkg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTIyMzA7aD0xMjU0\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/0123a63e6e00e03a45339eebf6e46dce\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"A scene from Vuhledar in August\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/3wrjqB0mgY7dSohNkk_Ywg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/0123a63e6e00e03a45339eebf6e46dce\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A scene from Vuhledar in August\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/3wrjqB0mgY7dSohNkk_Ywg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/0123a63e6e00e03a45339eebf6e46dce\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\"><span class=\"openArrows icon\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\"><path d=\"M12.372 0.92C12.372 0.414 12.782 0.004 13.287 0.004L21 0L20.996 7.712C20.996 8.217 20.586 8.628 20.08 8.628C19.574 8.628 19.164 8.217 19.164 7.712V3.183L12.337 10.011L10.988 8.663L17.816 1.835H13.287C12.782 1.835 12.372 1.425 12.372 0.92ZM1.835 17.816L8.663 10.988L10.012 12.337L3.183 19.164H7.712C8.218 19.164 8.627 19.574 8.627 20.08C8.627 20.586 8.218 20.995 7.712 20.995L0 21L0.004 13.287C0.004 12.782 0.414 12.372 0.92 12.372C1.425 12.372 1.835 12.782 1.835 13.287V17.816Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\">Vuhledar&#8217;s fate became almost inevitable once Russian forces entered the city [Ukraine 72nd Brigade\/Facebook]<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The situation became critical when Russian troops entered the city, and Ukrainian units started retreating without waiting for the order to pull out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf a withdrawal is not organised, it ends up being chaotic,\u201d the machine-gunner explained. Ukrainian defenders were like Titans trying to stop the Russians, he said. But some groups, he added, had become completely disoriented because of a communication blackout. Their radios were down, and when they came under heavy fire, they had to make quick decisions on their own and often it was to retreat.<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian defence lines were devastated by Russia\u2019s aviation bombs and thermobaric weapon systems such as its Solntsepek heavy flame-thrower, in addition to drones and multiple rocket launchers.<\/p>\n<p>Facing such an onslaught, withdrawing from certain positions became unavoidable, Roman argued. \u201cYou either die or retreat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But getting out from a city that had been nearly surrounded was extremely dangerous. During the daytime it became close to a suicide mission.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine\u2019s troops mostly tried to escape at night, having to cross mine fields via designated paths to avoid the road because it was closely monitored by the Russians.<\/p>\n<p>Until recently, evacuation vehicles had been able to drive in under cover of darkness with their headlights off, Roman explained. But once Russian troops had reached the centre of the city, the only way to escape was on foot.<\/p>\n<p>Those who managed to get out are exhausted and depressed. They are also angry at their commanders for not ordering the retreat earlier, because they argue it was obvious for some time that Ukrainian forces wouldn\u2019t be able to hold the city for long.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know why [they didn\u2019t give the order],\u201d the machine-gunner said. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s fear of the military leadership or maybe it was an order from the top [to hold positions] with our blood until the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Military officials from the 72nd brigade and Ukraine\u2019s operational command in the area refused the BBC\u2019s request to comment.<\/p>\n<p>In their most recent daily briefings, the military\u2019s General Staff kept silent about Vuhledar.<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday morning\u2019s briefing said merely that the \u201cthe enemy launched unsuccessful attacks on our positions in Bohoyavlenka\u2019s direction\u201d, without mentioning the situation in Vuhledar at all.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" height=\"1\" width=\"1\" style=\"display:block\" class=\"lazyload\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=75&resize=75 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=100&resize=100 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=150&resize=150 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=240&resize=240 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=320&resize=320 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=500&resize=500 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=640&resize=640 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=800&resize=800 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=1024&resize=1024 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=1280&resize=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/?w=1600&resize=1600 1600w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/a1.api.bbc.co.uk\/hit.xiti\/\"\/><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/russians-claim-key-city-vuhledar-075142005.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russian troops are now in almost complete control of the eastern city of Vuhledar, which Ukrainian forces have been defending since the<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russians-claim-key-city-of-vuhledar-in-ukraines-east\/02\/10\/2024\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36762"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36762\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}