Putin’s Donbass offensive – Russians attack the next city in the east

After the advance in Toretsk and towards Pokrovsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased the pressure in the east. In the zone south of Donetsk, another offensive was launched around the town of Vuhledar. The Russians had previously suffered defeats there when trying to storm the town. This time they are doing it more wisely and are avoiding the fortress-like base. A few days ago they began attacking the coal mine (Pivdennodonbaska) a little to the east. It is unclear how far they have advanced, but they have penetrated the area. If they are not driven out, they could also capture the spoil dump next to the mine. The hill is the dominant height, from there the main access roads to Vuhledar are controlled.

In a second strike, Russian troops have entered the neighboring town of Pavlivka, a town they had previously bombarded for weeks by bombing all the defenders’ positions. Putin’s soldiers are now said to control most of the town.

Putin mobilizes all forces

And this is what it looks like on other sections of the front: In the area around Hirnyk, which is held by Kiev, the Russians are said to have made further progress and penetrated new settlements. This means that there is a risk that Ukrainian troops further east will be cut off if they do not retreat quickly enough. A few kilometers further on, the Russians are said to have established themselves in Selydowe, and in Chasiv Yar they are said to have occupied further rows of houses west of the canal. In the north, in the area of ​​Kupiansk, they are pushing towards the village of Hlushkivka. In short: the entire eastern front south of Donetsk and all the way to the north is in motion. Even if there are repeated breaks lasting several days in some sections.

The calculation of the Ukrainian Kursk offensive has not worked. Putin has not withdrawn any significant troops from the east and has not stopped his offensive. On the contrary, the Russians are increasing their efforts and the more they do this, the harder it is for Ukraine to stop them. The Russians are turning previously quiet areas into hot zones, and their advances are extending the front line. Time and again, it is observed that not all areas can be defended. The dilemma is evident at Vuhledar. The Russians do not dare to approach the actual fortress. But the Ukrainians can hardly defend the surrounding towns, or only with difficulty. Once the Russians have taken them, they will surround the fortress on the flanks.

Kyiv lacks mobile forces

The Russians are able to penetrate the gaps in so many places because the Ukrainians lack mechanized troops to counterattack. They inflict losses on the Russians with drones, and occasionally they even throw the Russians out of a block of houses. But they are rarely able to regain possession of lost ground. The new attack in the south means that Kiev is faced with another dilemma in the Toretsk and Pokrovsk area. If troops are sent to Vuhledar, defending the city will become even more difficult. If they concentrate on the strategically important city, the Russians could decide to take the smaller towns.

Further successes at Kursk

In the east, Kiev is waging a poor man’s war: there are too few long-range weapons, too little artillery, too few armored vehicles. Only infantry and drones are supposed to stop the Russians. The Russians are making full use of firepower. They are using their Iskander missiles on an unprecedented scale and must have increased production significantly. At the same time, Kiev is trying to make a breakthrough in the Kursk region. There, the Ukrainians can actually expand their incursion further. They have made gains in the town of Martynovka, in Russkaya Konopel’ka and in the north.