Russian troops are closing in on Vuhledar, a stronghold in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, according to reports from the Ukrainian crowd-sourced tracking site DeepState. This comes as part of Russia’s ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine, which has intensified despite Ukraine’s surprise incursion into western Russia’s Kursk region. Ukrainian military analyst Ivan Stupak has stated that the city could fall in a matter of days due to the pace of the advance, despite Vuhledar being known as a fortress town with strong defenses. Russian troops have made multiple attempts to capture the town over the last two-and-a-half years, with significant losses in troops, tanks, and armored vehicles.
Recent maps suggest that Russian troops are close to surrounding Vuhledar by blocking off the only remaining entryway to the town from the north. The exhaustion of Ukrainian forces and delayed Western military aid deliveries are seen as contributing factors to Russia’s advances in the region. Additionally, the decision by Ukrainian command to redeploy personnel and equipment from Vuhledar to defend the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk further weakened the town’s defenses. This strategic loss would represent a significant setback for Ukrainian forces, as it serves as the entryway to the southern Donbas and prevents further Russian advances.
The capture of Pokrovsk, another key city in the Donetsk region, is also being targeted by Russian troops and is seen as a potentially important defense center. Israeli military expert David Sharp has labeled it as a critical point in Russia’s campaign for the area. Analysts note that the fall of Vuhledar would be a morale blow for Ukraine and could threaten the security of the entire southwestern portion of the Donetsk region. With little hope of additional Western aid and no signs of Russia redirecting troops from the Kursk region, Ukraine’s chances of turning the situation around in Donbas appear slim.
Experts suggest that Ukraine’s audacious strikes on military depots in western Russia could potentially shift the balance in their favor due to ammunition shortages for Russian troops. Ukrainian forces are reportedly eyeing seven depots as possible targets, with hopes that disrupting Russian supply lines could hinder their advance. These tactics are seen as a way to counter the Russian army indirectly, given the challenges of facing them head-on. Support for independent journalism in Russia, like that provided by The Moscow Times, is crucial in the face of increasing repression and attempts to silence unbiased reporting. Readers are encouraged to support independent media to defend freedom of the press.
