3 Points You Need to Know: The conflict in Ukraine remains intense as Russian forces continue offensive operations in both Eastern and Southern Ukraine, specifically around the strategic town of Vuhledar. British Military Intelligence reports that Russian forces now threaten Vuhledar from three sides, creating a dire situation for Ukrainian defenders.

-While Russia presses its multi-front attacks, Ukrainian forces continue to defend their positions and maintain control of several hundred square kilometers of territory inside Russia.

-The Kremlin's strategy of attrition comes at a high cost, with Russia suffering significant daily casualties, including the loss of men, unmanned aerial systems, artillery, tanks, and vehicles.

Ukraine Holds Strong as Russia Presses Multiple Fronts in the Donbas and South

The fighting in Ukraine continues to be as brutal as ever. Although there haven’t been any significant changes on the battlefield, Russian forces continue to be on the offensive along multiple lines of attack in Eastern and Southern Ukraine. 

On the other hand, the Ukrainian military is still in control of hundreds of square kilometers of territory inside Russia and seems to intend to fight for it. 

Heavy Fighting in Ukraine 

In its latest operational estimate of the war, British Military Intelligence assessed that the Russian military has “made further gains in the vicinity of Vuhledar in south-eastern Ukraine.”

“It is highly likely that Russian forces now threaten the town from three sides. They are already contesting the outskirts of the town, against which Russia has made repeated assaults since 2022,” British Military Intelligence added. 

Both sides have fiercely contested Vuhledar for years. The town lies in a strategic position in the Donbas and acts as a hinge for the Ukrainian defensive line. If Vuhledar falls into Russian hands, Ukrainian forces will suffer a fairly significant blow both operationally and psychologically. 

“It is likely that Russian forces will continue to pressure on this heavily defended part of the line over the next week,” British Military Intelligence stated. 

As the Russian forces approach closer to the center of the town, they will have more difficulty. An urban setting is the nightmare of any attacking force. Russian forces are likely trying to avoid a house-to-house fight by threatening Vuhledar with encirclement, assessing that the Ukrainians would pull out instead of getting trapped. 

But Vuhledar isn’t the only contested point.  Indeed, the Russian military is keeping up the pressure on multiple fronts. 

“In central Donetsk oblast, Russian forces are fighting within the eastern half of Toretsk and south of Pokrovsk. They have made only slow progress around Chasiv Yar,” British Military Intelligence assessed. 

By attacking simultaneously against several targets, the Russian military is very likely trying to stretch Ukrainian defenses and resources and make progress on at least some of the targets. This strategy can backfire. 

“However, this has also prevented Russia from massing forces on a single point of the line to have a more significant effect,” British Military Intelligence concluded. 

On the orders of the Kremlin, the Russian military has assumed an attritional strategy in Ukraine. Russian commanders send wave after wave of men against Ukrainian defensive lines to attrite the defenders and make progress. 

Russian Casualties in Ukraine: An Update 

Moscow’s attritional strategy is not without cost. Every day, the Russian military, mercenary units, and pro-Russian separatist forces take heavy casualties. Over the past 24 hours, the Kremlin lost approximately 1,250 men killed, wounded, and captured, as well as 115 unmanned aerial systems; 75 artillery guns and multiple launch rocket systems; 73 tactical vehicles and fuel trucks; 15 main battle tanks; 13 pieces of special equipment; and 12 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. 

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image Credit: Creative Commons.