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Co-founder of the analytical project Deep State, Ruslan Mykula, believes that the loss of the city of Vuhledar in Donetsk, where Ukrainian forces have held off Russian advances for over two years, is a matter of days, possibly weeks.
According to Mykula, to hold the city, it is necessary to “cut off the pincers” that the Russian army is creating by pressuring the city from the flanks. However, given the resources, reserves, and means across the entire front, this will be nearly impossible, the analyst suggests.
“Given the overall situation across the front, the resources, reserves, and means we have, holding Vuhledar will be practically impossible. Its loss is a matter of a few days or possibly a few weeks. This is because the enemy is applying pressure from the flanks. Risking personnel is a very bad idea. Although, of course, it may happen that the command to withdraw won’t be given in time. To hold Vuhledar, we need to cut off these pincers that the enemy is using on the flanks, but we simply don’t have the strength for that,” Mykula said.
The co-founder of Deep State considers the threat of encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Vuhledar to be high, but as of now, there has been no command to withdraw from the city.
“The soldiers are trying to hold on, and even combat orders are being sent to restore positions, which under the current conditions is absolutely impossible. I don’t know what those who are sending these orders are thinking,” Mikula added.
At the same time, the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade on Thursday, September 26, released a video assuring that its soldiers continue to hold positions in Vuhledar despite heavy enemy assaults.
“I want to dispel all doubts and the opinion of pseudo-experts that the 72nd Brigade has withdrawn from Vuhledar. Currently, despite heavy assaults and tough conditions, we are still here,” said one of the soldiers defending the city.
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On September 25, Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, reported on the national telethon that the situation in Vuhledar had escalated: Russian forces are attempting to encircle the city, and intense fighting continues. At the same time, about 100 civilians remain in the city, unwilling to evacuate.
