Russian forces close in on Vuhledar, evacuation and aid struggle

Russian armed forces are approaching the center of the city of Vuhledar in Ukraine. According to Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk region, all children have been previously evacuated from the besieged city.

Filashkin emphasizes that Russian forces are gradually taking control of the town, and the situation in the entire region is becoming increasingly dire.

Currently, there is a mandatory evacuation of families with children from the 6-mile zone near the front line in the region. Almost all children have already been transported. There are 107 people left in Vuhledar. It is extremely difficult to reach these people and deliver humanitarian aid and medicines because an intense phase of the conflict is ongoing, noted Filashkin.

Filashkin also pointed out the difficult humanitarian situation in the city of Toretsk, where about 1,500 people remain. Delivering humanitarian aid there is almost impossible due to the shelling of access roads by Russian forces.

The Ukrainian 72nd Mechanized Brigade has been defending Vuhledar for almost two years, nearly since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion. Russian forces are capturing more areas near Vuhledar and strengthening their positions south of the city of Kurakhove. The Russians are also attacking Pokrovsk, which is a key logistical hub for Ukrainian forces.

At the end of September, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that Russians are conducting offensive operations to the northeast and southwest of Vuhledar, aiming to encircle Ukrainian forces.

Vuhledar, located to the southwest of the occupied Donetsk, has long remained a fortress that the Russian forces could not capture. The fortified area was a convenient position to observe Russian movements, conduct fire, and could become a springboard for a Ukrainian offensive towards Mariupol.

According to DeepState, the enemy has entered the city's eastern part and is trying to gain a foothold in residential blocks. They are also pressing from the right flank. Russian leadership has sent regular forces and special units to capture Vuhledar. In addition to infantry attacks, the city is being destroyed by continuous shelling.

From the Ukrainian side's perspective, the potential loss of Vuhledar is not critical but would be a significant setback.