27 Sep: Defense on the brink! Russians close in. Ukrainians fight for survival. - Reporting from Ukraine

[TexasTowelie]

Today there are a lot of updates from the Kurakhove direction.

The intensity of Russian assaults in the area of Vuhledar increased significantly, with Russian advances on the flanks of the city while the Ukrainians successfully repelled direct frontal assaults. The situation in the Vuhledar area is becoming more complex and dynamic for the Ukrainian defenders as Russians are once again trying to assault the city for the third time in the war.

One of the main vectors of the Russian assault was aimed directly at Vuhledar from the south. This direction posed significant risks for Russian stormtroopers and armored vehicles, as the vast fields surrounding the city made them easy targets for Ukrainian forces stationed in the high-rise buildings. Despite this, the Russian command proceeded with its preparations, gathering forces in Pavlivka, south of Vuhledar. Combat footage from Ukrainian drone operators of the 72nd Motorized Brigade shows them spotting a group of Russian stormtroopers on motorcycles heading to an assembly point in Pavlivka. The Ukrainian drones then struck, destroying the Russian forces and halting the assault before it could begin. The original uncensored combat footage can be found on our Telegram channel through the link in the description.

In the eastern part of Vuhledar, the situation remains more fluid. Russian forces previously seized control of the high-rise buildings at the South-Donbass Number One coal mine complex, using the area as a staging ground for assaults on Vuhledar from the east. Additionally, the high-rise buildings in Vuhledar, where Ukrainian firing positions are concentrated, face the plains to the south toward Pavlivka. This positioning makes Russian assaults from the road east of the coal mine safer, as they are less exposed to Ukrainian fire. In preparation for these assaults, Russian artillery heavily bombarded the city with Tornado-S rocket systems, attempting to weaken Ukrainian defenses ahead of a full-scale ground assault to capture the town. However, geolocated footage reveals that after several ground assaults, only a small number of Russian stormtroopers managed to enter the city and take positions in nearby buildings. According to Ukrainian fighters, due to the limited number of Russian troops in the area, they are unlikely to hold these positions for long and will likely be driven out by Ukrainian forces inside Vuhledar.

To the north of Vuhledar, the situation is far more complex. Russian stormtroopers previously captured Vodiane after suffering heavy casualties during their assaults. Following this, Russian command quickly decided to advance toward the South-Donbass Coal Mine Number Three. Combat footage from the area shows intense Russian artillery fire targeting the coal mine to suppress Ukrainian positions. Once the barrage ended, a platoon-sized mechanized assault force moved across the fields between Vodiane and the coal mine. With Ukrainian positions still suppressed, the Russian infantry dismounted upon entering the coal mine complex and immediately opened fire. Following this, the Russian command sent another mechanized platoon to reinforce the assault on the coal mine, again taking advantage of the success of the heavy artillery fire, which kept Ukrainian troops in shelters. Although the Russian forces initially failed to fully capture the coal mine, the Ukrainian troops chose to withdraw to more defensible positions. Before retreating, the Ukrainians demolished the high-rise towers of Coal Mine Number Three, preventing the Russians from gaining fire control over the surrounding areas and diminishing the mine's tactical value. The original uncensored combat footage can be found on our Telegram channel as well.

To the west of Vuhledar, near Prechistivka, Russian forces are concentrating efforts to cross the Kashlahach River and use the bridgehead to encircle Vuhledar and advance toward the Berestova gully. Combat footage shows Russian stormtroopers from the 40th Marine Brigade dismounting from armored transports and storming Ukrainian trenches in assault squads of eight troops each. The intensity of the Russian assaults in this area has expanded their bridgehead across the Kashlahach River, bringing them dangerously close to Vuhledar and rendering one of the main Ukrainian supply roads unusable due to physical Russian control of it. The potential for Russian fire control over...

[niyad]

1. Slava Ukraini. Thank you for the update.