Russian forces have cut off or controlled all roads leading to the town of Vuhledar (or Ugledar) in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
News agency Tass On September 26, Boris Rogov – leader of the We are with Russia movement, said: “All the routes the enemy used to supply manpower, equipment and ammunition to Vuhledar have been blocked. cut off or controlled”.
According to Mr. Rogov, Russian forces currently control more than 1/3 of Vuhledar area. “The enemy is hiding there, avoiding direct combat and only attacking with suicide drones, artillery, MLRS,” Mr. Rogov added.
The Ukrainian army has not commented on this information.
Previously, leader of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk (appointed by Russia) Denis Pushilin announced that the battle for control of Vuhledar was ongoing.
Meanwhile, Governor of Donetsk Oblast (appointed by Ukraine) Vadym Filashkin said that Russian troops have not yet reached the outskirts of Vuhledar, but their reconnaissance groups are operating there. “Our defense forces are trying to stop the Russian army. They have not yet taken control of the town,” Mr. Filashkin declared.
When asked about reports that Russian forces had surrounded Vuhledar, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 25: “This is a positive move.”
Vuhledar, located 60-70 km southwest of Donetsk, is an important logistics point in the DPR and currently remains under Kiev’s control. The Russian army’s capture of this town will push Ukrainian forces away from the Donetsk regional capital and reduce the frequency of shelling in the area.
In August, Russian forces in Donetsk advanced at their fastest pace since the beginning of the conflict, although Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s Kursk province forced Moscow to disperse its forces.
Vuhledar has withstood numerous attacks since the outbreak of the conflict, and has become key to Ukraine’s defense system south of Donetsk.
Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Russia appeared to be stepping up its offensive against Vuhledar but capturing the town would not significantly change Moscow’s prospects for further advances.
Meanwhile, Federico Borsari – a member of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) shared with the newspaper Kyiv Independent that: “The loss of Vuhledar is not only a strong blow to the morale of Ukrainian forces, but also a very serious development that has the potential to threaten the security of the entire area southwest of Donetsk controlled by Ukraine, along with a threat to Pokrovsk’s southern flank”.