Russian forces took control of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region on Wednesday after the town endured over two years of attacks following the Kremlin’s invasion.
The capture of Vuhledar signifies Russia’s advantage in terms of manpower, a factor that has put pressure on Ukraine as it continues to request more and faster weapons from Western allies.
A press officer from Ukraine’s 72nd Mechanized Brigade, known for its tenacious defense, confirmed on Thursday that injured soldiers were successfully evacuated, but under “very difficult” circumstances.
“The enemy pressed from the flanks, making logistics significantly more challenging,” Arsenii Prylipka told the news outlet, adding, “This is war. It is impossible to have no losses.”
Prylipka highlighted the strain of the situation and explained that the commanding officer was forced to make a decision amidst intense fighting.
“They are continuously attacking, controlling, and making logistics difficult, so a decision is made right on the battlefield,” he added, dismissing any criticism of the decision to withdraw from the coal mining town.
Ukraine’s eastern military command stated that it had ordered a withdrawal from the town to prevent Russian troops from encircling its forces in Vuhledar and to “preserve personnel and military equipment.”
Although the town reportedly had a population of around 14,000 before Russia’s invasion in February 2022, it has been largely deserted since the start of the war, with most residents having evacuated.
Images depict the devastation inflicted on the town after enduring over two years of Russian bombardment, with many buildings not only abandoned but also smoke-covered and crumbling.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his war aim to be the capture of the entire Donbas region from Ukraine, and his forces currently occupy an estimated 80% of it.
The last of the Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Vuhledar left on Tuesday night, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday endorsed the commanding officer’s decision to withdraw his brigade from the town.
“It is necessary to protect their lives, because they are more important than any buildings. These are our people, these are citizens of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy responded to a reporter’s question about the withdrawal following a meeting with the new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
“Therefore, it is very correct that they leave and can save themselves. For the sake of the state, for the sake of its heroic service,” he added.