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+--- Thema: Schlacht um Vuhledar (/showthread.php?tid=7391)
Schlacht um Vuhledar - Aegrotare - 10.10.2024
Das ist die Zussamenfassung von dem Reddituser u/Larelli der sich auf viele verschiedene Telegramm-Quellen beruft, es ist aber die beste English sprachige Zusammenfasung die ich zu dieser Schlacht kenne. Im orginal text gibt es viele dierekt verlinkte Quellen.
Hier der Link zum orginal Threat: https://www.reddit.com/r/CredibleDefense/comments/1fx0l49/an_account_of_the_history_of_the_battle_of/
An account of the history of the Battle of Vuhledar and of Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Brigade, as of the recent developments
With this work (which I decided to release as a separate post because of its length), I aim to give a brief account of the history of the Battle of Vuhledar and of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, as of the more recent developments that led to the fall of the town, and what is happening now. The purpose is to inform those who wish of the history, in order to provide a coherent and linear picture, as of more recent events, in order to illustrate the latest happenings. This is by no means to say that everything I write is 100% accurate or complete - I don’t have access to official documents from either side... But it is my full understanding of events... As someone who spends quite a lot of time following this conflict.
As I said, one cannot talk about Vuhledar without talking about the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, and the other way around. Let’s review the stories, in this war, of both and how their fates met.
February 24, 2022. Ukraine is invaded. Most of the forces of Russia’s Southern Military District penetrate from Crimea, along with several units of the VDV. The 58th Combined Arms Army is tasked to advance as far north as possible, in the direction of the M04 Highway, with the goal of cutting off the rear of the bulk of the UAF, which was deployed in the ATO/JFO area. The same task, but on the northern flank, is placed on the 20th CAA of the Western MD, which penetrates east of Kharkiv; while the 1st GTA of the Western MD, from Sumy Oblast, is tasked to head as fast as possible towards the Dnipro River.
After the rapid capture of Melitopol by the 58th CAA, its formations split up: the 19th Motorized Division aims for Zaporizhzhia, being stopped by the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade approximately on the current front line, in the strip of land from the Dnipro to Huliaipole. The 42nd Motorized Division and 136th Motorized Brigade aim further east, in the strip between Velyka Novosilka and Volnovakha. They are substantially slowed and obstructed by local TDF as well as SOF units. However, units of the 58th CAA arrive at the gates of both Velyka Novosilka and Vuhledar. Indeed, in mid March 2022 elements of the 42nd Motorized Division captured Pavlivka.
By early March, the Battle of Volnovakha was raging. The important town, the loss of which triggered the encirclement of Mariupol, was being defended by the 53rd Mechanized Brigade (with support from the local TDF; the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion operated nearby), and attacked by battalion tactical groups of the 150th Motorized Division of the 8th CAA, along with DPR units such as the 100th Motorized Brigade (future 110th Motorized Brigade), the 11th Motorized Regiment (future 114th Motorized Brigade) and the "Sparta" Battalion. After two weeks of strenuous resistance, the Russians on March 11 captured Volnovakha. The remaining forces of the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion, which remained inside the pocket, fall back towards Mariupol. The 53rd Mech Brigade falls back to the Vuhledar area, and meets the forces of the 42nd Motorized Division that had just arrived there, which for the first time encounter a regular Ukrainian unit, by which they are stopped. The guys of the 53rd Brigade were thus the first defenders of Vuhledar.
Meanwhile, elements of the 40th and 155th Naval Infantry Brigades of the Pacific Fleet arrive, BTGs of which had participated in the Battle of Popasna and its local breakthrough during May. In the second half of June, the Ukrainian 53rd Mech Brigade launches a counterattack that liberated Pavlivka, advancing several kilometers towards Yehorivka. An account about this.
During July, the then newly formed 68th Jager Brigade also arrives in the Vuhledar sector. Around mid August, the 53rd Brigade is replaced by the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. The former is withdrawn for rest and will return to action in the following October, in the defense of the southern flank of Bakhmut.
Let’s review the history in this war of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. It has always been considered among the most combat-ready units in the UAF. As part of the decommunization, in August 2017 (the brigade had participated in the battle of Avdiivka of the previous winter) its honorary title became “Black Zaporizhzhians” (replacing “Krasnogradsko-Kyivskoi”), after the "1st Cavalry Regiment of Black Zaporizhians" of the Ukrainian People's Army. Its garrison is in Bila Tserkva, located some 70 km south-west of the Ukrainian capital. Unlike the vast majority of Ukrainian brigades, this one was not deployed in the Donbas at the time of the invasion (despite the fact that there were plans for its departure to Volnovakha a few days before the invasion).
On February 24, a large Russian grouping moves towards Kyiv. Forces of the Eastern MD, along with most of the VDV units engaged in Ukraine, attack the western bank of the Dnipro; forces of the Central MD attack the eastern bank, in the direction of Kyiv, including Chernihiv. Despite what's often thought, the Russian plans weren’t totally far-fetched, and the Ukrainians, caught by surprise in such a push towards Kyiv, found themselves in serious trouble. On the evening of the 24th, the first units of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade arrived around Kyiv from Bila Tserkva, and began to contribute actively to the defense of the capital, becoming one of the key players in the defensive arrangements around Kyiv. The overwhelming majority of the brigade's forces (which at that time had three mechanized battalions, a motorized battalion, a tank battalion, and support units) are concentrated in the eastern bank, namely in the Brovary area. Where they repel, with the support of the 114th TDF Brigade, the armored columns of the 90th Tank Division (which came along the M01 Highway) and the mechanized columns of the 2nd CAA (which came along the H07 Highway). Moreover, a battalion of the brigade is involved in the actions in the western bank of the Dnipro - specifically, in Moschun, where one of the most important battles of the Kyiv campaign happens, ending in Ukrainian victory. The Ukrainians (not only elements of the 72nd Brigade, but also units of the National Guard, TDF and SOF) succeeded in stopping BTGs of the 98th VDV Division and of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade. This was also made possible by the continuous and mighty support from the 43rd and 44th Artillery Brigades.
In early May, Zelensky rewards the brigade with the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery" for its prowess around Kyiv. Its 12th Separate Motorized Battalion is very presumably disbanded, while the brigade receives two linear rifle battalions, as do the rest of the veteran brigades of the Ground Forces, growing to five infantry battalions. Meanwhile, elements of the brigade are transferred to the Donbas, where they help stem the Russian attacks in the direction of Bakhmut after the capture of Svitlodarsk by the latters.
In August, the 72nd Mech Brigade is moved to Vuhledar, replacing the 53rd Mech Brigade. And here the stories connect. At the end of October 2022, the Russians launched their first offensive against Vuhledar, which featured the naval infantry brigades of the Pacific Fleet (155th and 40th). These managed to retake Pavlivka (albeit at a major cost in casualties), but were then stopped on the banks of the Kashlahach River, more or less where Ukrainian-held lines still were until not even two weeks ago. The Russians also succeeded in capturing most of the Kaolin Quarry, north of Volodymyrivka. Overall, the offensive ends in operational failure and is called off the following month.
This offensive, as well as the following one, take place under the command of Lieutenant General Muradov, commander of the Eastern MD (promoted to Colonel General in February 2023!), and of Major General Akhmedov, commander of the Coastal Troops of the Pacific Fleet - the latter was a protégé of Muradov, being his brother-in-law. The goal was clear. Move the Ukrainians away from Volnovakha, a relevant railway junction, and eliminate that Ukrainian stronghold which "corner" it formed acted as a pivot between the eastern and southern fronts.
During these very heavy battles, in which both the infantrymen of the 72nd Mech Brigade and the "hunters" of the 68th Jager Brigade stand out, the two brigades are reinforced. The 72nd Mech Brigade receives under organic subordination the 48th Separate Rifle Battalion (still part of the brigade), while the 68th Jager Brigade receives the 26th and 52nd Separate Rifle Battalions (ceded to other brigades during 2023). These brigades are also supported by a battalion each from the 118th and 128th TDF Brigades, as well as by the large contribution of the 55th Artillery Brigade.
Later, Ground Forces of the Eastern MD also arrive, following the Kherson retreat and the subsequent restoration of combat capability in Russia. The 29th CAA (formed only by the 36th Motorized Brigade, in terms of maneuver units) is deployed in the Vuhledar sector (the 36th Motorized Brigade partly partook in the first offensive too), with the 36th CAA (37th Motorized Brigade and 5th Tank Brigade) on its left. The 72nd Motorized Brigade of the 3rd Corps also arrives in the area.
In late January the second offensive was launched, with the goal of taking Vuhledar. This was much larger than the first and involved the brigades of the Pacific Fleet, as well as the 29th CAA, the 3rd Corps and, partly, the 36th CAA. As well as the 14th Spetsnaz GRU Brigade, the OBTF "Kaskad" and the “Vostok” Battalion of the 1st Corps. This is the major and most known known offensive; the one rightly much derided, for the high number of losses of armored vehicles, which seemed to almost willingly run on mines (often planted remotely through RAAMS). It is also the largest offensive, in terms of intensity, launched by the Russian Armed Forces between June 2022 (Lysychansk sector) and October 2023 (Avdiivka) - if we attribute the largest part of the Bakhmut campaign to PMC Wagner, competing with the repeated Russian offensives against Avdiivka between February and April 2023.
The Russians attacked mainly from their bridgehead on the Kashlahach River in Mykilske towards Vuhledar and, as we know, were repulsed with very high losses. Although such a fiasco is often associated with the Russian Naval Infantry, these were only a part of the forces involved, besides the only ones to have achieved some successes, ruined after their withdrawal. The "Alga" Battalion of the 72nd Motorized Brigade of the 3rd Corps got virtually wiped out during the actions. The famous video of the column of Russian armored vehicles driving into a minefield one after another shows an action of the 36th Motorized Brigade (29th CAA). Marines of the 155th Brigade managed to capture some positions in the dachas south-east of Vuhledar, getting close to the high rises, that were lost in the following weeks, when these positions were handed over to the 37th Motorized Brigade (36th CAA).
During this period, the two brigades defending Vuhledar (72nd Mech and 68th Jager) and their “dowries” were also supported by the 21st Motorized Battalion of the 56th Motorized Brigade. In mid February, the offensive is called off. The attacking Russian forces lost much of their combat capability. The 136th Motorized Brigade of the 58th CAA arrives in the area, from the Avdiivka sector, to replace some of these units, which were withdrawn for R&R.
In the following months, things in the Vuhledar sector become much quieter as the Russians prepare for defense against the coming Ukrainian counteroffensive. Both Muradov and Akhmedov get relieved. During this period, the Vuhledar sector is, all in all, quiet. The 68th Jager Brigade is moved further west and participates in the initial phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Velyka Novosilka sector, liberating, on June 11, Blahodatne, in the eastern bank of the Mokri Yaly River, with support from the 3rd Mech Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade. The new 37th Marine Brigade is also involved in the eastern bank, failing, however, to capture Novodonetske. During June, they are reinforced by the 35th Marine Brigade, which arrived from Krasnohorivka (the one above Marinka). The 36th CAA, reinforced by the 1466th Regiment of the Territorial Forces and by the 131st Separate Rifle Regiment of the 1st Corps, focuses, along with the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade, in the defense of the eastern bank of the Mokri Yaly.
In late July, the 68th Jager Brigade is transferred to the Svatove sector, where the Russians initiate a small-to-medium-scale offensive against Ukrainian positions in the middle Zherebets valley, being replaced by the new 38th Marine Brigade. Marines from the latter, along with those of the 35th Brigade, liberate Urozhaine during August.
In the Vuhledar sector, on the Ukrainian side, only the 72nd Mechanized Brigade remains, along with the 234th Battalion of the 128th TDF Brigade. On the other side, they face the 29th CAA, the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade and the 116th Separate Rifle Regiment of the 1st Corps (now 51st CAA). The Ukrainians never carried out serious offensive operations in this sector. This does not mean that the 72nd Brigade did not carry out small-scale counterattacks of tactical nature. In late July the Ukrainians drive the Russians out of the last positions they occupied inside the dachas south-east of Vuhledar; at the same time the paratroopers of the 79th Air Assault Brigade, holding Marinka and Novomykhailivka, recover ground south of the latter settlement.
In September, the 137th Marine Battalion of the 35th Marine Brigade assaults Novomaiorske, but is repulsed with serious losses by the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade. There would be no further Ukrainian advances in the Velyka Novosilka sector. In general, the operations of the Ukrainian Marine Corps in the strip between Novodonetske and Novomaiorske proved to be a costly failure. Later in the month, the four marine brigades are withdrawn for recovery, with the prospect of being employed in Krynky. They are replaced, in the eastern bank of the Mokri Yaly (i.e. the broad right flank of Vuhledar!) by the 58th Motorized Brigade, which was in the strategic reserve, along with the 20th Special Purpose Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade and the 31st "Dnipro" Brigade of the National Guard, which is in charge of holding Urozhaine.
Almost simultaneously with the start of the offensive against Avdiivka in early October, the Russians (68th Corps and 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, supported respectively by the 1472nd and 430th Regiments of the Territorial Forces) launched an offensive against Novomykhailivka, which we can consider the broad left flank of Vuhledar, from the Ukrainian point of view. The 79th Air Assault Brigade along with its dowries hold out tenaciously, thwarting Russian advances for months.
The situation in the immediate vicinity of Vuhledar remains, on the whole, relatively quiet. There are frequent counter-battery actions between both sides and the usual KABs launched against the town by the Russians (mostly by the 11th Air and Air Defence Forces Army). This is also the area of the entire front (barring the northern front) where it is the easiest for the Russians to use air support, because of the relative proximity to bases in southern Russia. At this time the 72nd Mechanized Brigade is still a large and in good shape unit. There are rotations among its battalions, losses are not high. Most of the losses experienced during earlier Russian offensives have been restored.
During December things got worse on the left flank: the Russians managed to score a major advance, reaching the southern edge of Novomykhailivka. The 79th Air Assault Brigade is stretched and during the month finds itself forced to abandon its last positions within the ruins of Marinka. The arrival of the 46th Airmobile Brigade in Heorhiivka gives some breath to the 79th Brigade and allows them to mount a counterattack, pushing the Russians back south of Novomykhailivka, in early January.
At this time serious pressures begin, for the first time since February 2023, against the 72nd Mech Brigade. The 39th Motorized Brigade of the 68th Corps (supported by a regimental tactical group of the 18th Machine Gun Artillery Division of the same corps) shifts its attentions from Novomykhailivka to the terrain south-west of the settlement, carrying out several mechanized attacks from Solodke in the direction of Vodiane (an instance + geolocations), together with the new 139th Separate Assault Battalion of the 29th CAA. A battalion of the 5th Tank Brigade of the 36th CAA is also temporarily committed in this direction. South of Vuhledar, the 95th Separate Rifle Regiment of the 1st Corps is deployed from Kherson Oblast, replacing the 116th, which was cannibalized to restore the losses of the 114th Motorized Brigade east of Avdiivka.
At first, Russian attacks are repulsed. In February, however, the Russians manage both to regain ground south of Novomykhailivka, capturing the first houses inside the village, and to advance along the Vodiane-Solodke Road. The Russians bring reserves, increasing pressure in the direction of Vodiane. While the battle rages in March between the 79th Air Assault Brigade and its dowries against the Russian 39th Motorized and 155th Naval Infantry Brigades inside Novomykhailivka, further south the 57th Motorized Brigade of the 5th CAA is brought into action, after several months of rest after the battles around Kurdyumivka in the southern flank of Bakhmut. Detachments of the 14th Spetsnaz GRU Brigade support these attacks. However, counterattacks by the 72nd Mech Brigade succeed in recovering some ground and stabilizing the situation.
There is no slack on the right flank, meanwhile. The 58th Motorized Brigade, as explained a month ago by the Ukrainian journalist Butosov, acts as a mini-OTG (Operational-Tactical Group) and holds the entire sector from the Mokri Yaly to Shevchenko at bay, along with its assigned units. In early 2024, the 13th Motorized Battalion of this brigade is detached to Avdiivka, where it fights together with the 53rd Mech Brigade in the southern flank. After withdrawing from the city, the 13th Battalion goes to cover the area between Prechystivka and Shevchenko. Upon their return in late February, the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade launches a mechanized attack north of Shevchenko, in the direction of the Kashlahach River; other assaults follow in the following days. The Russian marines manage, albeit with significant losses, to advance 1,5 km north of Shevchenko.
During this period, off the front line, two things happen. The Vuhledar sector, as well as the Velyka Novosilka, the Kurakhove, and the Avdiivka ones, are transferred from the "Tavria" Operational-Strategic Group to the "Khortytsia" OSG, following the fall of Avdiivka. Meanwhile, the 72nd Mech Brigade is called upon to contribute to the expansion of the UAF. A separate machine gun platoon is transferred to the new 153rd Mech Brigade, as reported by MilitaryLand too. Some officers and NCOs are transferred to the new brigades. I also found indications that a serviceman from the 72nd Mech Brigade was transferred to the 162nd Mech Brigade, a potential new unit whose existence has not been confirmed yet.
In the second half of April, after occupying all of Novomykhailivka, Russian attacks further increase in intensity. They attack fiercely from Novomykhailivka to Volodymyrivka, with multiple mechanized attacks every week, sometimes every day, despite the transfer of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade to the Kharkiv sector. The Russians' goal is to get as close as possible to Vodiane and to the Kostiantynivka-Vuhledar Road. To do this they had to "jump" the area's numerous forest belts one after the other, which often run perpendicular to their direction of attack. Mechanized attacks, very costly in material terms, happen in addition to infantry attacks, no less costly in human terms. Nevertheless, the Russians, belt after belt, progressively advance. The first significant manpower problems emerge in the 72nd Mech Brigade.
In late April, the 36th CAA and 40th Naval Infantry Brigade launch an offensive against Urozhaine, keeping the 58th Motorized Brigade and the other units busy. Reinforcements arrive in the long stretch of sector under the responsability of the 58th Brigade: the 157th and 160th Battalions of the 118th TDF Brigade (the latter is the battalion of the city of Uman). However, the density of Ukrainian forces in the right flank of Vuhledar is considerably low, if compared to other areas. In July, the Russians conquer all of Urozhaine, after which the 36th CAA and the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade stop the bulk of active offensive operations and start accumulating reserves.
Throughout May and June there are very heavy battles in the left flank of Vuhledar, between the 72nd Mech Brigade and the Russian forces of the Eastern MD. Note, however, that the area south of Novomykhailivka is the border between the jurisdiction of Russia’s Group of Forces "South" and the GoF "East". In late June the Russians achieve very important successes in the area south of the Vodiane-Solodke Road, north of Volodymyrivka. They first occupy the rest of the Kaolin Quarry, then move several kilometers closer to both Vodiane and the Pivdennodonbaska No. 1 Coal Mine. In mid June there are serious coordination problems between a battalion of the 72nd Mech Brigade and, most likely, the 234th Battalion of the 128th TDF Brigade (possibly subordinate to the 48th Rifle Battalion of the 72nd Brigade). The TDF unit ran very high risks of finding itself surrounded, as a result of a failure from the command to notify the unit that nearby positions had been lost. This problem was reported by the Ukrainian observer Bohdan Myroshnykov. The unit at risk of being surrounded was then able to withdraw, but not without losses.
https://t. me/myro_shnykov/5659
https://t. me/myro_shnykov/5692
The first real tactical crisis in the Vuhledar sector arises. This is overshadowed by the analogous crisis in the Pokrovsk sector and the coeval Russian breakthrough near Toretsk and then in Niu-York, due to the mess with the rotation between the 24th and 41st Mech Brigades. The latter trouble (and the shameful circumstances during which it happened) finally cost Lieutenant General Sodol, the commander of the OSG "Khortytsia", his job, getting replaced by Brigadier General Hnatov (promoted to Major General in August). The "Vuhledar file" arrives at the new commander's desk. Hnatov is briefed on the difficult situation in Vuhledar and the gradual loss of combat capability of the 72nd Mech Brigade. As early as the last days of June some reinforcements arrive. The 35th and 36th Separate Rifle Battalions of the 61st Mech Brigade are deployed near Vodiane; the Self-propelled Artillery Battalion of the 31st Mech Brigade also arrives to provide fire support. Between Kostyantynivka and Vodiane, the 214th Special Battalion OPFOR is active, which was already fighting in the area under the 79th Air Assault Brigade.
In late July and early August, the Russians (whose assault detachments are always replenished with men to make up for heavy losses) score more advances on the left flank, approaching Vodiane and, further north, physically cutting the Kostiantynivka-Vuhledar Road, south of the former settlement (by the 39th Motorized Brigade of 68th Corps). Meanwhile, those units of the 61st Mech Brigade are withdrawn and taken to Kursk along with the rest of the brigade. Additional territorial defense units arrive, such as the 216th Battalion of the 125th TDF Brigade and at least one battalion of the 116th TDF Brigade, along with elements of the 2nd "Galician" Brigade of the National Guard (near Vodiane). By mid August, the Russian onslaught, at the expense of heavy casualties, continued seemingly unabated. The Russians (57th Motorized Brigade of the 5th CAA) overran the Kostiantynivka-Vuhledar Road south of Vodiane, and captured (39th Motorized Brigade of the 68th Corps) the important company-stronghold east of the village. Soldiers of the 216th Battalion of the 125th TDF Brigade complained of heavy losses after coordination problems with the 72nd Mech Brigade. On one occasion the deputy commander of the 72nd Brigade also allegedly beat the chief of staff of the 216th Battalion.
Let’s recall that the Russians, specifically the 36th Motorized Brigade of the 29th CAA and the 95th Separate Rifle Regiment of the 51st CAA, also attacked intensely from the south, between Pavlivka and Mykilske. But in this case, without progress, thanks to the Ukrainian-held fortifications.
In late August and early September, the right flank "wakes up” too. The 37th Motorized Brigade and the 5th Tank Brigade of the 36th CAA, to which the 430th Regiment of the Territorial Forces is attached, go on the offensive along with the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade. First they advance from their forward positions north of Shevchenko, reaching the Kashlahach River; a few days later they succeed, advancing several kilometers, also in occupying Prechystivka and even in approaching Zolota Nyva. In this area, under the jurisdiction of the 58th Motorized Brigade, the defenses of some of its battalions and those of the 118th TDF Brigade attached to it, yield, being able to do little against enemy forces of a multiple superior. The Russians also occupied several fortifications north of Prechystivka, reaching the course of the Balka Beresmova. Recall that during August, according to what I found, the 15th Motorized Battalion of the 58th Motorized Brigade was detached to support the 25th Airborne Brigade in Novohrodivka, in the Pokrovsk sector.
But these days something very important happens, publicly unknown even in Ukraine, which I discovered through an article of a local online newspaper from Transcarpathia. During August the General Staff, probably Syrsky himself, must have approved the transfer of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade from the Kamyanske sector to Vuhledar, to replace the 72nd Mech Brigade. I think Syrsky's intervention must have been necessary because the Vuhledar sector is under the jurisdiction of the OSG “Khortytsia”, while the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade performs duties under the OSG “Tavria".
On August 30, MP Maryana Bezuhla (incidentally, greatly despised by every Ukrainian serviceman/observer I know) made it known that the 72nd Brigade would be taken out of Vuhledar, after being allegedly contacted by soldiers of the 72nd Brigade who were scared they would be sent to another hot sector (which in my opinion would make no sense - why transfer them in the first place then?).
https://t. me/marybezuhla/1999
Fact is, the Russians immediately intensified their attacks, and the situation in the flanks got even worse. The rotation gets cancelled; the 72nd Brigade remains in place, scoffing Bezuhla on their official Telegram channel.
https://t. me/ombr72/10252
They get reinforced by several battalions that are placed under its subordination (as we’ll see later); the General Staff likely accepts the future loss of Vuhledar at this point. This took place between August 30 and September 2. Let's get to the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, which is today still covering the area between the Dnipro and Nesteryanka. A large brigade, not the best one, but in better condition than many others, since its sector is overall quiet. On September 1 came the order to withdraw from the positions and get prepared to move elsewhere. It has in its organic structure three mountain assault battalions, a motorized battalion, two rifle battalions, the tank battalion and support units. On that day, soldiers of the brigade's 2nd Rifle Battalion were in the forward positions in their sector as usual, which they have held for a year and a half. They were the first subunit of the 128th Brigade to complete the process of releasing and handing over their positions (I don't know whether they have been replaced by a TDF battalion, a separate rifle battalion or someone else), they packed up their stuff and were therefore ready for transfer. This battalion (formed by four rifle companies and the fire support one), according to the words of its soldiers, is up to 50% understrength, as it has not had any replenishment nor rotations for 17/18 months.
However, on the evening of September 1 it was announced that the rotation to Vuhledar is cancelled. But... the 2nd Rifle Battalion was ready to go and had already left its positions, unlike the rest of the brigade. What does the Ukrainian command, which finds itself with a spare battalion (despite not even being a separate battalion but a linear one), do? They make it move anyway. Destination: the opposite part of Ukraine - Kupyansk. I managed to find a document on this matter. During the night of September 2 a convoy of 72 vehicles (cars, vans...) crosses half of Ukraine and takes the battalion to the Kupyansk sector. The battalion is seconded to the National Guard (most likely the 1st “Bureviy” Brigade). The latters order the battalion in its entirety to cross the Oskil and take up positions 4 km from the Russians, where they are to hold the line and possibly carry out counterattacks. Most likely they were sent to the hot area between Kolisnykivka/Kruhlyakivka and Pischane. The whole convoy was supposed to cross the river on a pontoon bridge (which they said was known to the Russians) and take their positions on the eastern bank.
At that point, the 2nd Rifle Battalion refused to cross the Oskil (being threatened by the National Guard with disbandment of the battalion and being scattered to various units), and first of all asked Brigadier General Bohomolov (commander of Tactical Group “Kupyansk”) for at least a week of rest, as well as to reconstitute the battalion at full strength. At the end of that week they recorded a video appeal to Zelensky, where they said they were threatened with disbandment because of the refusal to perform dangerous tasks not commensurate with the battalion's actual strength, asked for two weeks of rest, the reconstitution of the battalion and to return to their “native” brigade, in the sector they know well.
What was Bohomolov's response to this, a few days later? The battalion is disbanded. To achieve this, he definitely received the approval from the Operational Command “West”. The soldiers of the 2nd Rifle Battalion claimed that a colonel from the OC “West” told them that they would still carry out their assigned tasks, no matter under which unit, and that their battalion would not be receiving any rest, replenishments of men and gear etc. The order was carried out. The 2nd Rifle Battalion of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade no longer exists. Its servicemen have been scattered among various units, probably among those already fighting around Kupyansk. A Facebook group has already sprung up to share memories of the battalion and its (now former) members.
Let’s get back to Vuhledar now. With the destruction of the rotation, the increasingly drained 72nd Mech Brigade remains in Vuhledar. It is reinforced by additional TDF elements, such as one battalion each from the 110th and 117th TDF Brigades (the former, north of Vodiane), as well as the 1st Separate Assault Battalion “Da Vinci” (the one that was ousted from the composition of the 67th Mech Brigade in April), that arrived from the Huliaipole sector. The 181st and 185th Battalions of the 122nd TDF Brigade also arrived in Vodiane. During September, the 2nd Airmobile Battalion of the 77th Airmobile Brigade also arrived from the Borova sector and is deployed east of Vuhledar. I identified all these movements through MIA notices and crowfunding activities on social media. These reinforcements, not for lack of valor of the troops, fail to scratch the Russian onslaught, which in fact increases in intensity as these have sniffed, like sharks smelling blood in the water, a rotation in the air.
In early September, the 57th Motorized Brigade of the 5th CAA captures the settlement of Vodiane, the 139th Separate Assault Battalion of the 29th CAA the Pivdennodonbaska No. 1 Coal Mine, and Vuhledar is for the first time seriously threatened with encirclement. In the mid of the month, the Russians also take the Pivdennodonbaska No. 3 Coal Mine west of Vodiane.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/6798
But it doesn't end there. Shortly thereafter, a combined attack by the 5th Tank Brigade and the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade breaks through the Ukrainian defenses and advances several kilometers north of the Kashlahach River.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/6877
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/6894
Fire control is taken over the Bohoyavlenka-Vuhledar Road. Secondary routes for supplies, in the fields, are constantly hit. In all this, the Russians are heavily aided by the 14th Spetsnaz GRU Brigade. In fact, two Russian CAAs (albeit not large ones, but not considering the 68th Corps fighting farther north-east of Vuhledar) are fighting against one and a half Ukrainian brigades. Russian superiority in manpower is indisputable. To it must be added a huge volume of artillery fire and use of KABs and TOS against the town, as well as FPV drones against Ukrainian strongpoints.
The crisis becomes an emergency. The situation is no longer salvageable. The commander of the 72nd Mech Brigade, Colonel Ivan Vinnik, is removed and replaced by the head of the Territorial Recruitment Center of Odesa Oblast and former commander of the 14th Mech Brigade, Colonel Alexander Okhrimenko - who is considered a butcher for his handling of a counterattack against Masyutivka (Kupyansk sector) back in May 2023, which I had written about in January. I have no exact theory for this. Maybe the former commander had serious tactical responsibilities for what has happened over the recent months, maybe he was asking for permission to leave the town but was not granted it, maybe such a major loss must necessarily be accompanied by some positions getting axed. What is certain is never has the 72nd Brigade lacked valor. And while there is never enough of them, but there has not been too much of a lack of shells either recently, according to words of its servicemen. In this regard, let's recall the contribution provided by the 55th and 148th Artillery Brigades.
There has been a lack of men. Reinforcements were never enough, and drip-feeded. In Bezuhla's words, the 72nd Mech Brigade was not even among the units that had priority for replenishement of men (the Ukrainians have this system - brigades fighting in the hottest areas and those that need to be largely reconstituted have the priority for receiving recruits, both in quantity and quality).
In late September, the Russians physically cut the Bohoyavlenka-Vuhledar Road. The situation got desperate. In the second half of September, the Russians also began making advances towards Vuhledar directly from the south. The 430th Regiment of the Territorial Forces captured the forward positions of the 72nd Mech Brigade near the industrial area of Pavlivka along the Kashlahach, which the Ukrainians had fortified over the years. An instance.
https://t. me/voin_dv/11098
The 36th Motorized Brigade of the 29th CAA conquers the dachas south-east of Vuhledar and on, September 25, succeeds in occupying the first high rises of the town, in the area of the local headquarters of the State Migration Service of Ukraine.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/6919
At the same time, the 123rd TDF Brigade of Mikolaiv Oblast is ordered to move to Vuhledar. Until then they were deployed in the Kherson sector - one part of the brigade along the mouth of the Dnipro, another part around Beryslav, near Kakhovka. There they covered positions along the river to prevent Russian raids, as well as shooting down Russian drones. Most of the battalions of this brigade have been deployed in the Kherson sector for practically the entire duration of the war, at least since the war moved away from Mikolaiv, remaining there even after the liberation of Kherson and not getting actively involved in Krinky, but partially in some islands along the Dnipro. The brigade should have decent levels of staffing, largely from the volunteers who had formed it at the beginning of the conflict, but it reflexively has very little experience of fighting in the Donbas and a bad situation in terms of gear.
Typically, when a TDF unit is transferred, we are talking about one/two of the battalions of a TDF brigade being assigned to another brigade and used to increase its infantry endowment. There are few TDF brigades that cover a given sector with all or most of their battalions being deployed there. Also because they would have serious difficulties in covering an area independently, not having an artillery group, a tank unit, armored vehicles, etc. Which by the way makes the HQ Staffs of most TDF brigades useless, but let's leave that aside. In this case, however, it would appear that the entire, or nearly the entire, brigade has been transferred and/or is in the process of being transferred. It is not clear whether it was assigned to the 72nd Mech Brigade, as I think.
There are problems with the 123rd TDF Brigade. The commander of its 186th Battalion, as I understand, refused to take his men in Vuhledar. At that point he was allegedly threatened by officers from the Operational Command "South" with the opening of criminal proceedings against him and charges against his brigade for the loss of Vuhledar. He committed suicide shortly thereafter, on October 2. The same day the OSG “Khortytsia” formally authorized the withdrawal from the town and the most nearby areas, as we shall see. It is unclear whether the battalion was disbanded, as is the custom in such cases of refusal. A hundred soldiers from the 187th Battalion of the same brigade refused to go to Vuhledar, and instead started a protest in Voznesensk (the capital of the raion where their battalion comes from). During the protest they complained that there is a shortage of weapons in their battalion and no machine guns are provided, and they also complained that they are not trained for such a mission.
This Ukrainian Telegram channel, “Mannerheims son”, run by a battalion chief of staff of a mechanized brigade fighting in Southern Ukraine, has different views, and says that this brigade has been provided with equipment; the TDF should be abolished and often hampers the conduct of combat missions, not because of the soldiers themselves but because of problems at the battalion level and interaction with the brigade to which they are assigned. He says it would have been much better if these soldiers had been assigned organically to the 72nd Mech Brigade.
https://t. me/ukr_sisu/156
https://t. me/ukr_sisu/157
The command of the TDF denied reports of weapons shortages and has been urging those soldiers to change their minds before criminal prosecutions for unauthorized abandonment of the military unit start. The 255th Battalion of the same brigade is already engaged in combat tasks around Vuhledar. According to what I have learnt from relatives of soldiers of the 123rd TDF Brigade, some soldiers were sent to Vuhledar (I mean the town itself, not the sector) during the last days of September, when the situation was already extremely compromised, with the task of supporting the 72nd Mech Brigade and preventing the Russians from taking control of the town's buildings. The relatives of the soldiers of the 123rd Brigade, in addition to being very worried - understandably, following the transfer of their loved ones from a quiet sector to a very hot one - confirm that they were sent there "without equipment"; and state that they are not refusing to perform combat tasks, but are demanding the gear to be provided. Numerous crowdfunding collections have sprung up these days from relatives and residents of the Mykolaiv region to finance the purchase of EW systems and other stuff needed for the brigade.
At this time (late September), there was no authorization from above to evacuate the town. Some groups, likely authorized by their officers, began to gradually leave the city accompanying the most seriously wounded comrades-in-arms. The situation was very nasty, part of the communications was down. Supplies were virtually gone: vehicles had to pass through dirt roads, remotely mined by and under the eyes of Russian drones, with the danger of FPV drones, quadcopters and artillery/mortar fire.
On September 30, the assault detachment of the 5th Tank Brigade entered the town from the west, capturing several high rises to the west of School No. 3, followed by the assault detachment of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade. A few hours later, stormtroopers of the 37th Motorized Brigade took the garage cooperative in the north-western edge of the town. During this day, there are still fierce urban clashes in much of the town's streets, despite both ammunition and literally everything else running very low.
On October 1, the Russians won the last isolated pockets of resistance within the town and cleaned out building after building. The bulk of what remained of the Ukrainian garrison withdrew during the night of October 1, not without losses. The retreat happened in isolated groups along fields and forest belts, in a very difficult environment because of Russian fires. During that day, the 36th Motorized Brigade finished its conquest of the town, occupying the north-eastern part of Vuhledar.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/6986
On October 2, the OSG “Khortytsia” admits that as a result of Russian actions on the flanks against Vuhledar and the following risk of encirclement, an order was issued to the units in the area to abandon the town and take on new positions.
https://t. me/Khortytsky_wind/1188
On October 3, the Russian MoD officially acknowledges the conquest of Vuhledar and credited the GoF "Vostok" (East) with the conquest of the town. This GoF should be led by Lieutenant General Alexander Sanchik, the acting commander of the Eastern Military District, which was congratulated by Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.
https://t. me/mod_russia/44085
https://t. me/general_governor/2719
After 30 and a half months of resistance (remember what I wrote above: the Russians took Pavlivka for the first time in mid March 2022), the Ukrainian stronghold of Vuhledar is lost. Along with it, the combat capability of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. The bulk of its battalions are out of action. Several companies virtually no longer exist. Some of the infantrymen are in convalescence after the battles of the past months/weeks. They will likely return later, but at the moment they are not available. In recent months the bulk of the brigade's drivers, mechanics, signalmen, etc. have also been transferred to the infantry. As evidenced by the very small number of POWs taken (beyond Russian ramblings), those who had remained in the town fought to the end. Others managed to reach Bohoyavlenka. Some of the wounded had to remain in the town, in a situation reminiscent of the “Zenith” bunker south of Avdiivka back in February.
We cannot forget those who allowed the evacuation and prevented the Russians from closing the ring around the town, namely infantrymen from other subunits of the 72nd Brigade and of the TDF, who tenaciously defended the two ventilation shafts of the Pivdennodonbaska No. 3 Coal Mine (west of the latter) and the nearby forest belts. Only in the last few days, as confirmed by DeepState and by geolocations, have the Russians captured the northern ventilation shaft, trying to advance into the area around it. This area has been relatively decently fortified by the Ukrainians.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/7003
The battle of Vuhledar, so long and costly for the Russians, is over. But the war is certainly not, let alone the problems in that corner that the front forms, that are going to get worse with the loss of Vuhledar. At the moment, the 72nd Mech Brigade will not be withdrawn, having no replacement unit that is able to "inherit" the front. I believe that most likely the brigade’s HQ Staff, the remaining fire support units, the UAV Battalion and the artillery group will continue to operate in the Vuhledar sector while the infantry work will be done by the TDF units attached to the brigade. Apparently, the 113th TDF Brigade of Kharkiv Oblast, or at least elements of this brigade, which until now covered the state border in Kharkiv Oblast, is arriving too. It is unclear how many battalions will arrive. Note that in recent weeks its 209th Battalion was fighting in Nevske in the Lyman sector, according to my findings.
The big questions are: how prepared the Ukrainian command actually was for the possibility of the town being lost; the intentions of the Russians now; how the front will settle in this very important area. In case the emergency continues in the future, perhaps the General Staff will find some decent brigades to transfer to this sector. As for the Russians, according to Russian sources, the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade is preparing to be transferred to Kursk Oblast to be brought into action against the Ukrainians up there. One of their battalions has already been there for a month. Note that this post also tackles the problems with desertion in the naval infantry brigades deployed in Kursk.
https://t. me/severnnyi/2214
This may suggest that while the Russians will continue to press on in order to conduct tactical advances, they may initiate an operational pause in the sector in order to regroup the units of the GoF "East". Elements of the 35th CAA are also moving from the Huliaipole sector to Kursk Oblast, a sign that a structural reinforcement of the GoF "East" does not appear to be planned. The 5th CAA continues offensive actions of tactical nature in the direction of Makarivka, in the western bank of the Mokri Yaly, with limited successes. Actions between Urozhaine and Novodonetske have stopped, with the 36th CAA concentrated in Vuhledar, where the 29th CAA is deployed. Will the 57th Motorized Brigade of the 5th CAA continue to be deployed in the Vuhledar sector in the future, will it return with its "native" army, will it be moved in other directions? Well… If I knew, I would inform the Ukrainians. The 68th Corps, which although being a formation of the Eastern MD acts under the GoF "South", is currently continuing to attack in the area between Katerynivka and Vodiane, facing the 79th Air Assault Brigade and its dowries. Yesterday the Russians managed to reach the gates of Katerynivka from the south, having occupied Kostyantynivka and the terrain south of the former village last month.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/7015
As of the day before yesterday (it is unclear whether the Ukrainians have withdrawn), the 29th CAA, through its 200th Artillery Brigade, is attacking the southern ventilation shaft of the Pivdennodonbaska No. 3 Coal Mine, which the Ukrainians are clinging to tenaciously, as recognized by decent Russian sources. Who also state that the advancing towards Bohoyavlenka will not be easy. The Ukrainians have several strong points in the area, south of Bohoyavlenka. I suggest this map by Clément Molin.
https://t. me/voin_dv/11140
https://t. me/voin_dv/11063
Despite the tenacity of the 79th Air Assault Brigade, which is making Russian advances costly and slow, and the prowess of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade, which is stopping the attacks of the 20th Motorized Division of the 8th CAA west of Pobjeda (in particular, in the area north-west of Pobjeda, the front has been stable since April), things in the Kurakhove sector are far from good. In particular, they are getting worse in the sector of the 46th Airmobile Brigade. The 5th Motorized Brigade of the 51st CAA and elements of the 150th Motorized Division of the 8th CAA have captured Hostre and the Penal Colony No. 82 to its west, and recently reached the gates of Ostrivske, greatly worsening prospects for Maksymilyanivka, the last village before Kurakhove.
https://t. me/creamy_caprice/7004
The whole area between the stronghold of Kurakhove and Bohoyavlenka is very delicate and to be watched carefully. The Russians certainly aim to reach this line. Optimistically, Bohoyavlenka will take Vuhledar's place as the new pivot between the southern and eastern fronts, but making this happen will require a series of fortunate circumstances (including decent capabilities and choices by the Ukrainian command).
Moreover, the other flank should not be underestimated at all. We still need to clarify the situation around Zolota Nyva, further west (although, to my understanding, the village is under Ukrainian control), and see how the Ukrainians will hold out in the strip south of Novoukrainka - that is the area of responsibility of the 58th Motorized Brigade. Yesterday, forces presumably of the 36th CAA scored a 1,5 km advance north-west of Vuhledar, according to DeepState, reaching the heights (so to speak) where the watershed between the Kashahlach and the Balka Ikryana runs (the latter is a stream that passes through Bohoyavlenka and flows into the Sukhi Yaly River shortly thereafter). It’s likely that just as the 29th CAA will aim to approach Bohoyavlenka, the 36th CAA will "probe" the Ukrainian defensive arrangements around Novoukrainka. We can hope that the departure of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade and better awareness on the Ukrainian side will be enough to halt Russian advances in the area. Looking towards the Mokri Yaly, things have calmed down compared to months ago; Ukrainian resistance has substantially slowed down Russian ambitions, and the latters are still far from restoring the positions they held before June 2023, when they were at the gates of Velyka Novosilka. But potential Russian advances in this area today will be very risky for the Ukrainians and must be avoided, if the area between Kurakhove and the administrative limits of Dnipro Oblast is not to be troubled. The serious Ukrainian defensive line here is behind both Velyka Novosilka and Novoukrainka.
Honor and eternal memory to those who fell in defense of Vuhledar; thank you all for reading.