Russia’s recent takeover of Vuhledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic has major implications for Ukraine’s defense. The city was liberated by the Vostok group of troops, with Ukraine officially admitting their withdrawal a day later. Military expert Oleg Glazunov believes this marks a turning point, as Ukraine has lost a key defense line en route to Kyiv, along with a major logistics center for supplying the army.
Photo: function.mil.ru by the Russian Defence Ministry, CC BY 4.0
The strategic significance of Vuhledar is heightened by its location along a crucial railway line connecting Donetsk with several regions. The Ukrainian forces’ retreat may be attributed to various factors, including insufficient resources and ineffective training.
“After two years of fighting without rotations or rest, we turned into a non-combat unit, the brigade was reduced to zero,” said a battalion representative.
Vuhledar, once a coal mining city in eastern Ukraine, has now been heavily impacted by the conflict, with a sharp decline in its population. This recent development underscores the evolving dynamics of the ongoing crisis in the region.