Forbes: Battles for Vuhledar have become one of the bloodiest for Russia in the entire war.

Russian breakthrough to the south of Vuhledar and the price of victory

According to journalists, the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Army managed to break through the defense of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which defended Vuhledar in the Donetsk region. Currently, enemy troops are in the south of the city, and the Ukrainian garrison seems forced to retreat to the north. This is reported by Forbes.

It is worth noting that as a result of this breakthrough, the Russians will have to pay dearly. About a thousand pieces of equipment and several thousand soldiers were lost in this area. The Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed enemy brigades using mines, artillery, drones, and anti-tank missiles.

The most problems were from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023. The Pacific Fleet Marines, particularly the 40th and 155th brigades, carried out unsuccessful attacks in the Vuhledar area, which became some of the bloodiest in the entire war. Brigade number 155 lost up to 300 people per day and was practically destroyed. Attempts to rearm were also unsuccessful.

As for the 40th brigade, the results were slightly better but still insignificant. In total, about a thousand pieces of equipment and about 6% of all vehicles that Russia lost during these heavy battles in Ukraine were written off.

The defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area was more effective. The defenders sat in trenches and bunkers and successfully shelled the Russians with mines, artillery, rockets, and drones.

The 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians, which defends Vuhledar, denied rumors of its withdrawal from the city. According to British intelligence, the Russian occupying forces continue to press on Vuhledar from three sides, and this process will continue over the next week. According to ISW estimates, the capture of Vuhledar will not provide the Russian troops with a significant operational advantage for future offensive operations in the western part of Donetsk region.

It is worth noting that the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been defending Vuhledar for almost two years, so the forces of the fighters are exhausted. Currently, they risk being surrounded and cut off, as the Russian troops continue to approach from the north. This was stated by Forbes analyst David Axe.

Earlier, there were reports of the dismissal of the commander of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Ivan Vynnyk.