The Kyiv Independent news site on October 2 quoted information from Ukraine's Khortytsia combat group confirming that its forces had withdrawn from the town of Vuhledar in Donetsk province.
"The high command has authorized the withdrawal of units from Vuhledar to preserve personnel and military equipment and to hold positions for further operations," the task force said in a statement.
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Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Brigade has been defending Vuhledar, the key to Ukraine's defenses south of Donetsk. Russia launched its first major offensive there in early 2023.
Vuhledar has withstood several fierce attacks in recent weeks as Russian forces have attempted to encircle the town. Local authorities confirmed that Russian troops entered Vuhledar on October 1, adding that fighting was still ongoing.
The town of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine
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The frontline town is located about 50 km southwest of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk and about 40 km east of the administrative border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Vuhledar is located north of a major intersection with a road towards the town of Kurakhove and a road towards the village of Velyka Novosilka.
“It is therefore a key logistical point for Ukrainian forces defending the southern flank at Kurakhove,” said Federico Borsari, an expert at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
The Russian Defense Ministry has not mentioned Vuhledar in its daily battlefield report. However, Russian Telegram channels have released footage of troops waving Russian flags over ruined buildings there, according to Reuters.
RIA news agency on October 2 quoted a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry saying that the country's forces had gained control of the village of Verkhnokamianske in Donetsk.
Russia attacks infrastructure
Ukrainian officials said on October 2 that Russia sent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack infrastructure in Odessa province, causing damage to a grain processing facility and buildings at the border crossing between Ukraine and Romania.
The attack took place in Ukraine's Izmail district near the Danube River, Odessa Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.
“Russia continues to wage war against grain and global food security,” said Oleksiy Kuleba, deputy prime minister in charge of recovery.
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The border crossing was temporarily closed due to the attack, Kiper added. Two truck drivers, including a Turkish national, were injured, officials said.
In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone hit a northern transformer substation and damaged equipment, Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said on Telegram. The Sumy Oblast power grid operator said the attack left more than 80,000 customers without power.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed 11 of the 32 Russian attack drones launched overnight. Four other drones left Ukrainian airspace in the direction of Russia and 10 were neutralized by the Ukrainian side.
Russia has not commented on the above developments.
Ukraine's "new defense industry"
Speaking at a defense conference in Kyiv on October 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the country's "new defense industry" for its dramatic increase in production to help counter Russian forces.
"In the first half of this year alone, Ukraine produced 25 times more ammunition for artillery and mortars than in the whole of 2022," he said, adding that nearly 300 Ukrainian and foreign arms companies were attending the conference in Kyiv.
According to the leader, Ukraine is currently capable of producing 4 million UAVs annually.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a government meeting that half of the ammunition Ukraine uses on the front is produced domestically.
However, boosting further production within Ukraine is complicated by the fact that the entire country is within range of Russian missiles. Despite the challenges, President Zelensky said the industry has achieved significant change.
“Many years ago, the Ukrainian defense industry looked regrettably impotent. But now it is on its way to becoming a leading industry, at least in Europe,” according to the leader.
In addition to long-range UAVs, Ukraine also produces Neptune anti-ship missiles that have been used to attack several Russian ships in the Black Sea. In late August, Mr. Zelensky announced the successful test of the first domestically produced ballistic missile.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chien-su-ukraine-ngay-952-ukraine-that-thu-o-vuhledar-nga-tap-kich-odessa-185241002213959281.htm
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