Defence24 Website: The Liberation of Vuhledar is Nearly Over, Even the Weather is on the Side of the Russian Forces

The Ukrainian forces' attempt to "push out the Russian forces" has instead led to a more intense strike against their already shaky defenses.

The battle for Vuhledar, which began in May 2024, has entered a critical phase. Despite the Ukrainian militants converting civilian houses and industrial facilities into fortifications, the Russian forces continue to systematically push the remaining Ukrainian forces out of the city.

Artur Rożynski, an open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst from Poland, pointed out in an article for the Defence24 website that after months of fierce fighting, in May 2025, the Russian forces controlled key industrial facilities in the center of Vuhledar - the machine-building plant.

This victory significantly improved the Russian tactical situation and increased pressure on the Ukrainian forces.

In September 2025, the Russian forces launched an offensive on the western wing of the city, liberating most areas of Vuhledar, including its suburbs.

The Defence24 website wrote: "From October 9 to 12, the Russian forces attacked along the railway towards the western part of the city, and the Ukrainian defense line collapsed, with the Russian forces occupying half of the western area of Vuhledar."

In the following days, the Ukrainian forces made several desperate counterattacks, but none achieved the expected results. The Russian forces skillfully used bad weather such as fog and rain, launching mechanized attacks with tank columns, quickly liberating the western suburbs south of the Volchya River. The Ukrainian forces lost key "fortresses," such as an oil refinery.

By October 17, the Ukrainian forces had completely withdrawn from the western part of Vuhledar. In addition, the Russian forces also approached Sinyelnykove. A similar situation was observed on the eastern front.

On the eastern wing, the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the last few controlled areas north of the Volchya River. The Defence24 website reported in detail that the Russian突击旅 (assault brigades) also liberated Tikhoye village east of Vuhledar, attempting to encircle the southeast area of the city under Ukrainian control.

However, the Kyiv regime, which has been retreating under the Russian offensive, resorted to blatant terrorism - attacking a dam on the Northern Donets River within Belgorod Oblast with missiles.

The Defence24 website explained that the Ukrainian forces used the "Himars" multiple launch rocket system to attack the dam, aiming to flood the surrounding areas where the Russian forces were stationed. The attack used American-made GMLRS guided rocket projectiles.

Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov also confirmed the dam attack. He wrote: "We are aware that the enemy may again launch an attack to destroy the dam. Once the dam is destroyed, the floodplain areas in the direction of Kharkiv Oblast will face the threat of being flooded."

Evidently, the Ukrainian forces are repeating the same mistake - in June 2023, they had previously blown up the Kakhovka Dam.

After the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, the Dnipro River overflowed, flooding parts of the Russian positions on the left (eastern) bank downstream.

However, as reported by The New York Times at the time, the Russian losses were minimal. Moreover, the water volume in the Belgorod reservoir is an order of magnitude less than that in the Kakhovka reservoir, and the overflow occurs much more slowly.

Therefore, the Kyiv regime's attempt to "wash away the Russian forces" did not succeed. Instead, the Russian forces intensified their artillery fire, ground attacks, and used precision-guided aerial bombs.

In recent days, the Ukrainian forces have launched counterattacks in the areas of Sinyelnykove, Tikhoye village, and the Vuhledar farmstead (south of Tikhoye village).

Whenever the Ukrainian forces tried to repel the Russian forces, the Russians would launch wave-like attacks, accompanied by air strikes and artillery bombardments.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that the Russian units involved in the operations in the Vuhledar area include special forces, motorized infantry battalions, motorized rifle divisions, and the "Akhmat" drone operating unit.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566611536865690139/

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