Contrary To Rumor, Ukraine's 72nd Brigade Is Holding vs Russians In Vuhledar

Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, Kharkiv...and now, Vuhledar. Routinely this year, western media accept Russian disinformation about the impending fall of a 'strategic' Ukrainian city, waxing ominously about the dire implications for Ukraine's survival. 

And then...Ukrainian defenders miraculously fail to surrender, withdraw or retreat and, in many cases, actually push the Russians back. None of which is covered by said western media because admitting they were wrong would be embarrassing and undermine their declining credibility. So yes, Vuhledar might some day fall. But that day is not today. And it doesn't look like it will be tomorrow either. JL

Kateryna Denisova reports in the Kyiv Independent:

Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Brigade today refuted reports that it was retreating from the embattled town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. The 72nd Mechanized Brigade has defended Vuhledar for nearly two years, as Russian forces have been trying to capture the town since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.The front-line town lies about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of occupied Donetsk and roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the administrative border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Brigade on Sept. 26 refuted reports that it was retreating from the embattled town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast.

The brigade released a video purportedly from Vuhledar saying it had been filmed there earlier in the day.

"We want to dispel all doubts and the pseudo-experts' thoughts that the 72nd Brigade withdrew from Vuhledar," a Ukrainian soldier said. "Despite heavy assaults and difficult circumstances, we are still there." The statement came after a media report suggested Ukrainian soldiers had begun to withdraw from the town, adding Vuhledar was "about to fall."

 

The 72nd Mechanized Brigade has defended Vuhledar for nearly two years, as Russian forces have been trying to capture the town since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.The front-line town lies about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of occupied Donetsk and roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the administrative border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Vuhledar has withstood numerous attacks since the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022 and has become key to Ukrainian defenses in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast.

The crowd-sourced monitoring website DeepState reported that Russian forces are aiming to encircle Vuhledar.

Russian troops had not reached the outskirts of town as of Sept. 25, Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin.

"Sabotage and reconnaissance groups are coming in, but our defenders are trying to knock them out. This means that the town is not yet captured," he added.