For over two years, the Ukrainian town of Vuhledar has withstood Russian attacks.
But on Wednesday, Russian soldiers are said to have taken full control of the city in the Donetsk region to the east.
This is reported by the Russian channel Shot on Telegram and pro-Russian war bloggers. This is written by the Reuters news agency, which has not been able to confirm the information itself.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented.
The city has a strategic location high in the countryside.
At the same time, it lies between southern and eastern battlefields, which is why it is important for both parties when it comes to bringing supplies to soldiers.
With Ukrainian forces in full control of the city, they could use it as a base to shell Russian supply lines.
Vuhledar had a population of 14,000 before the war and was a coal mining town.
As early as 2022, Russia said it had annexed four Ukrainian regions – including Donetsk. Both the Ukrainian government and the West have called that announcement illegal.
Vuhledar is also close to a railway line that runs from the annexed peninsula of Crimea to the Donbas region.
Russia has referred to Vuhledar as one of the last Ukrainian strongholds in southern Donetsk.
Gradually, Russian forces surrounded the city, making it harder and harder for Ukrainians to bring in supplies and rotate forces.
At least four times Russia has made major attempts to take the city. But they have been beaten back by the Ukrainians – probably until now.
Since 2022, the fierce fighting has led to very extensive destruction in the city. Pictures on Tuesday showed Russian forces with a flag on top of an administrative building in the city center.
Parts of the building are just rubble, while the windows have been blown in on the sweaty window sections.
/ritzau/Reuters
Source: www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk
