Russian forces have completely liberated the town of Ugledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has confirmed.
Ukrainian forces had controlled the town since 2014, when the DPR declared independence following the US-backed coup in Kiev. Ugledar was a strategically important position, consisting mostly of high-rise building dominating the surrounding plain.
“As a result of conclusive operations by the units of the ‘East’ group of forces, the town of Ugledar in the DPR has been liberated,” the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.
Video and photo evidence of Russian troops in control of Ugledar appeared on social media on Wednesday, notably a flag raised over the town’s administration building. Later in the day, the Ukrainian high command said it had ordered “a maneuver of withdrawal” from the town. It was unclear whether any units were actually able to leave the operational encirclement.
According to a security source who spoke with the TASS news agency, Russian forces had almost completed “mopping up” the Ukrainian resistance as of Wednesday afternoon. Some of Kiev’s units had suffered “huge losses” after not being able to leave, the source added.
The 72nd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which was stationed in Ugledar, had reportedly sought permission to retreat last week, as Russian troops cut off their supply lines and placed the town under siege. According to multiple Russian military correspondents, their requests were denied because losing Ugledar would look bad while Vladimir Zelensky was visiting the US.
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