The Russian advance in Donetsk continues as more Ukrainian villages and towns fall under control. On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of a new village in Donetsk, along with the elimination of 2,120 Ukrainian soldiers in the past 24 hours.
Russian Ministry of Defense Announcement
According to the Ministry, Russian forces took control of the village of Verkhniy Kamenka in Donetsk and inflicted heavy casualties, eliminating approximately 2,120 Ukrainian troops. The statement also reported the destruction of dozens of Ukrainian tanks, armored vehicles, and Western-supplied weaponry during the past 24 hours. In the process of capturing Verkhniy Kamenka, Russian forces claimed to have caused the deaths of 855 additional Ukrainian soldiers.
Recent Developments in Donetsk
On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense also reported that Russian forces had taken control of the town of Krutoy Yar in Donetsk. Additionally, social media posts and news reports indicated that Russian forces captured the strategic town of Vuhledar, located in the Donetsk region. Videos on social media showed Russian soldiers raising the Russian flag on a multi-story building in Vuhledar.
Ukrainian Forces Withdraw from Vuhledar
However, Ukrainian military officials reported on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces are “withdrawing” from Vuhledar, which lies atop a tactically significant hill on the front line in eastern Ukraine, following over two years of intense fighting. This withdrawal follows a fierce summer campaign along the eastern front, during which Ukraine conceded several thousand square kilometers of territory.
The Ukrainian Army’s Khortytsia Ground Forces formation announced via Telegram that it would be pulling out of Vuhledar “to protect personnel and military equipment.” The statement added that “in an attempt to hold the city at any cost, reserve forces were sent to carry out aggressive attacks, exhausting the defenses of Ukrainian armed units. Due to enemy actions, there is a risk of encircling the city.”
Implications of Vuhledar’s Capture
The capture of Vuhledar marks another step forward for Moscow, bringing it closer to the main logistics hub in Pokrovsk. The ongoing Russian advancements continue to shift the dynamics of the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
