Russian troops ramp up attacks near Vuhledar as conflict escalates

According to information conveyed by the Ukrainian General Staff, on Thursday, there were 181 clashes with the Russians on the front line in Ukraine, with the most occurring towards Pokrovsk—56. Meanwhile, as reported by the Institute for the Study of War, the Russians have also intensified attacks on Vuhledar and aim to take the H-15 route, which connects Donetsk with Zaporizhzhia.

The Russian army has intensified offensive actions near Vuhledar in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, aiming to eliminate a broad bulge in the front line created by Ukrainian forces to the west and southwest of Donetsk, according to the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They are also trying to take the H-15 route, which connects Donetsk with Zaporizhzhia, ISW assesses in its latest report.

According to analysts, coordinated offensive actions stretching from the southern flank of the Pokrovsk direction to the western flank of Ukrainian defences near Vuhledar aim to increase pressure on Ukrainian forces and further develop the attack on the Russian priority target of Pokrovsk.

Intensified Russian attacks around Vuhledar have so far brought limited tactical gains, including entry into the village of Prechystivka, near Vuhledar. According to Russian sources, Russian forces continue actions towards another village, Zolota Nyva.

ISW emphasizes that Russian troops are also active on other sections of the front southwest and west of Donetsk, and intensifying attacks near Vuhledar in the near term will not mean a weakening on other fronts.

The Washington think tank also notes recent statements by Vladimir Putin, who, according to analysts, "continues to downplay the operational effects of the Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region for the entire theatre of operations and continues efforts to convince the Russian people that the delayed and disorganised Kremlin response to the Kursk operation is an acceptable price for further Russian advancements in the Donetsk region."

Putin said on Thursday at 12:00 GMT that the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region failed to force the redeployment of Russian forces from the Donetsk region and halt the Russian offensive on "key sections". He named the main goal as capturing the entire Donetsk region. ISW assesses that "Putin's words that the Kursk invasion had no operational impact on the situation are untrue."