The Russian military storms Ugledar in the Donetsk region

In recent days, Russian troops have resumed an active offensive on the city of Ugledar in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, southwest of Donetsk. This is reported by a number of Ukrainian and Russian mass media and Telegram channels.

Russian pro-military bloggers claim that Russian troops have entered the outskirts of the city, for which battles have been going on for more than two years, and are gradually advancing deeper. In addition, as recognized by Ukrainian sources, the Russian military advanced on the flanks, creating a threat of cutting the roads leading to the city.

Ukrainian military expert Pavel Narozhny noted on Radio Svoboda that the situation in Ugledar is not hopeless yet, and speaks of the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops prematurely. According to him, the current situation allows the continuation of hostilities.

Ivan Tymochko, the Chairman of the Council of Reservists of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, emphasized that, although Russian troops are advancing on the flanks, the fighting continues, and these actions should not be confused with a complete encirclement. The decision to withdraw troops will be made depending on the threat to the soldiers’ lives and the state of the city.

At the same time, analysts of the Ukrainian group Frontelligence Insight described the situation in the city as critical, saying that the last stage of its defense had come.

Vladislav Seleznev, a military expert and colonel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, previously stated that the loss of Ugledar would deprive the Ukrainian Armed Forces of the opportunity to strike one of the key highways used by the Russian military.

According to the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, however, the capture of Ugledar by Russia is unlikely to significantly change the course of hostilities in the west of the Donetsk region, since the city is not a key logistical hub.

According to Forbes, the 72nd mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, numbering about 2 thousand people, is located in Ugledar. It was reported that, in particular, in the winter of 2023, the Ukrainian military repelled an assault on the city, inflicting heavy losses on the Russian military.