"Creates significant risks": Zhurets explains what is happening in Vuhledar and whether it is possible to hold the city. Map

The fighting in Vuhledar continues, and the Ukrainian 72nd Brigade continues to hold its ground in extremely difficult circumstances. However, Ukrainian units will likely be forced to retreat from Vuhledar over time due to excessive threats.

This was reported by Serhii Zhurets, director of the Defense Express information and consulting company, on the Espresso TV channel. Despite the reports of some foreign media about the alleged withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Vuhledar, Zhurets notes that the situation is different.

"The fighting continues in Vuhledar. The 72nd Brigade is holding this section of the frontline in extremely critical conditions," emphasized the military expert.

The main problem in this area is the enemy's attempts to flank the area from the east and west. The enemy's fire control over the important logistics artery between Bohoyavlenka and Vuhledar is particularly threatening. This road, which is the main way to supply Ukrainian troops in the region, is under enemy fire, which creates serious risks for further combat operations.

"It is now more than 1 km from Bohoyavlenka to the mines seized in the Vodyane area, which allows the enemy to keep this supply line under fire control. This creates significant risks for our brigade's combat operations," noted the military expert.

Zhurets also noted that, according to most military experts, Ukrainian units will likely be forced to retreat from Vuhledar over time due to excessive threats. However, some foreign journalists suggest that it is possible to hold the city, provided that there is stable logistical support.

"I think the risks are much greater, so we need to gradually wind down this defense and continue to move to other lines of defense. Our General Staff is well aware of this, but in many parts of the frontline, wherever we face similar situations, we see that our soldiers are holding the line to the last," summarized Zhurets.

As a reminder, on September 24, Russia announced that its army had launched an assault on Vuhledar. During the assault, the occupiers are using a huge number of anti-aircraft gunships and aircraft, which allows them to advance.

Western media, including Forbes, claimed that a Ukrainian brigade of about two thousand people was "under the threat of encirclement in the city."

The very next day, on September 25, the Land Forces stated that Vuhledar was not currently surrounded, but that there was an advance by the occupiers.

Meanwhile, the ISW said that the Russians could capture the city. However, they noted that even if Russian troops capture Vuhledar, it is unlikely to provide them with a significant operational advantage for further attacks in the western part of Donetsk region. Although, according to the Russian command, the offensives near Vuhledar and Pokrovsk are mutually reinforcing and are intended to stretch Ukrainian forces on a wider front in the Donetsk region.

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