Photo: Alexander Reka/TASS
Ugledar, where the 72nd mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to hold the defense, disappeared from the reports of the Ukrainian General Staff, is surrounded and there are Russian flags on buildings in different parts of the city. In some areas, the last pockets of resistance of scattered Ukrainian units are being eliminated, as the advisor to the head of the DPR, Yan Gagin, has just informed RIA Novosti.
Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda spoke with military observer and blogger Roman Donetsky, who had information directly from the scene.
Kyiv SACRIFICES A BRIGADE
– What is the operational information of Ugledar on October 2?
– In Ugledar, cleaning was taking place on Wednesday morning. The Ukrainian garrison of this city is defeated. Their remains are blocked: either they die or they surrender. Russian flags are raised in different parts of the city on ruined high-rise buildings.
– What’s next?
– Next will be the Epiphany. Next will be our advance, and they are preparing the rear positions. In fact, they sacrificed their 72nd brigade, which defended this city. During Zelensky’s visit here and Marinka a few months ago, they had to prove that Ugledar is not only under their control, but is an impregnable fortress.
– To what extent will this contribute to the security of Donetsk and what will it bring in the future?
– In the future, this will allow progress towards Velikaya and Novoselka and towards Zaporozhye. Ugledar was a key position in their defense. Battles for him began back in 2022. It was not possible to take it away immediately. In the winter of 2023 there was an attempt to abandon Pavlovka. And now everything is done correctly. Moreover, now they will feel uncomfortable in Kurakhovo. And after the loss of Kurakhov of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the shelling of the Petrovsky district of Donetsk will cease.
DO NOT HIT YOUR FOREHEAD
– Next we must return Slavyansk and Kramatorsk?
– After the Krasnoarmeyskaya agglomeration there will be a Slavic agglomeration; this is inevitable. But there everything is more complicated. The agglomeration is very well fortified and must be avoided. However, we have already practiced getting around cities pretty well. But it will be a very serious operation and not quick.
– We look at the pictures of Ugledar: does it seem to look better after our assault than the same Artemovsk or Avdeevka?
– Well, in Bakhmut (Artemovsk) there were intense urban fighting in the streets. In the process, the houses are completely destroyed. In Vugledar there were almost no street fights. The garrison was surrounded, after which the cleanup began. But, I repeat, it depends on how you look at it. You can look at Novogrodovka and Ukrainsk: in general, everything is fine there compared even to Ugledar. We have learned to bypass more and more cities, threaten the garrisons with an encirclement, and then retreat. In Ugledar they did not have time to retreat, which in general is wonderful.
– In Ukraine the topic immediately began to spread that Ugledar “is not that important”…
– Well, initially one of the strongest brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was led to the not so important Ugledar. And it was constantly fed by rifle battalions. There was a powerful artillery group there. The city was fortified for two years. In general, they are simply spreading propaganda. In fact, Ugledar has strategic importance in this direction. He stands tall. From it you can control the terrain for many kilometers around. And the loss of this fortified point will affect them very hard.
TWO CITIES IN THREE WEEKS
– What can you say about Pokrovsk-Krasnoarmeysk?
– The Krasnoarmeyskaya agglomeration consists of 7 cities. We have already taken two: Novogrodovka and Ukrainsk. Now there are battles in Gornyak, and ours bypass Selidovo. The cities are aligned. And until we take it all, going to Krasnoarmeysk means getting a new Artemovsk with frontal battles… If we were told in 2023 that we would take two relatively intact cities in three weeks, probably no one would have believed it.
-Have you moved to the Kursk region?
– While driving across the border, people continue to live. There are quiet areas that are located on the same border with Ukraine, the population was first evacuated and is now returning. There public transport stopped reaching those places a while ago, but now everything is calm. Yes, there are drones at night, but the locals are somehow used to it. And people are quite optimistic. They calmly treat the same sirens.
