Russian forces close in on Vuhledar as humanitarian crisis deepens
Russian armed forces are approaching the centre of the city of Vuhledar in Ukraine. According to Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk region, all children were previously evacuated from the besieged city.
Filashkin emphasises that Russian forces are gradually taking control of the town, and the situation in the entire region is becoming increasingly dramatic.
Dramatic humanitarian situation
Currently, families with children are being forced to evacuate from the 10-kilometre zone near the front line. Almost all the children have already been transported. There are 107 people left in Vuhledar. It is extremely difficult to reach these people and deliver humanitarian aid and medicines because an intense phase of the conflict is ongoing, noted Filashkin.
Filashkin also pointed out the difficult humanitarian situation in the city of Toretsk, where about 1,500 people remain. Delivering humanitarian aid there is almost impossible due to the shelling of access roads by Russian forces.
The Ukrainian 72nd Mechanised Brigade has been defending Vuhledar for nearly two years, almost since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion. Russian forces are not only capturing more areas near Vuhledar but are also strengthening their positions south of the city of Kurakhove. The Russians are also attacking Pokrovsk, which is a key logistical hub for Ukrainian forces.
At the end of September, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that Russians are conducting offensive operations to the northeast and southwest of Vuhledar, aiming to encircle Ukrainian forces.
Special units launched the attack
Vuhledar, located to the southwest of the occupied Donetsk, has long remained a fortress that the Russian forces could not capture. The fortified area was a convenient position to observe Russian movements, conduct fire, and could become a springboard for a Ukrainian offensive towards Mariupol.
According to DeepState, the enemy has entered the eastern part of the city and is trying to gain a foothold in residential blocks. They are also pressing from the right flank. Russian leadership sent regular forces and special units to capture Vuhledar. In addition to infantry attacks, the city is also being destroyed by continuous shelling.
From the Ukrainian side's perspective, the potential loss of Vuhledar does not have critical significance but would be a significant setback.
