A Ukrainian military grouping in the town of Ugledar within Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has announced its retreat from the strategic stronghold following weeks of intense battles with Russian forces. The capture of this significant location by Russian troops, however, has not been officially confirmed by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Situated on a hill in an open area and composed almost entirely of high-rise concrete buildings, Ugledar had been fortified into a major stronghold by the Ukrainian military. The fighting for control over this town had persisted for months, but recently, Russian forces significantly intensified their assaults, leading to reports of them gaining control over parts of the settlement.
On Wednesday, the Khortitsa task force of the Ukrainian military issued a statement on its Telegram channel, revealing that “the higher command has given permission to carry out a maneuver of withdrawal of units from Ugledar.” This action aims to preserve personnel and combat equipment for future engagements, as explained by Khortitsa.
According to the group, the Ukrainian units in Ugledar were left “exhausted” due to the relentless Russian attacks on their flanks. There was a threat of encirclement of the town,” it noted.
Earlier in the day, an unnamed security source informed our publication’s news agency that Russian forces have nearly completed their “mopping up” operation in Ugledar. Some of Kiev’s units there suffered “heavy losses” after failing to evacuate the town on time, according to the source.
Additionally, on Wednesday, an aide to the head of the DPR informed RIA Novosti that a Russian flag had been hoisted above Ugledar’s administrative building. However, Yan Gagin emphasized that it was still premature to assert that Moscow’s forces have secured full control over the town.
The Russian Defense Ministry did not mention Ugledar in its daily briefing but reported the capture of Verkhnekamenskoye village in the northeastern part of Donetsk People’s Republic. This settlement is situated five kilometers (approximately 2.5 miles) east of Seversk, an important Ukrainian stronghold and logistics hub in the area. The Russian ministry estimates that Kiev’s forces have lost up to 2,120 servicemen across the front line over the past 24 hours.