Battle for the coal: the Armed Forces left the city - as it will affect all the defense of the Eastern Front

The operational-strategic group of Khortytsa troops reported the threat of the settlement of the settlement as a result of the actions of Russian troops, so the command made a decision on the withdrawal of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to preserve personnel and military equipment. In this regard, the focus found out what importance for the Donbass Front is the loss of one of the key points of Ukrainian defense, and how military experts comment on this event.

Fighting for the coal, located southwest of Donetsk, lasted more than two years. The city was considered one of the key fortifications of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, and Russian troops have repeatedly tried to seize it, suffering significant losses. However, despite its long resistance, Ukrainian defenders had to retreat because of the flanking strikes by Russian forces, which exhausted Ukrainian defense and posed a threat to the environment.

According to the Ukrainian command, Russian troops have directed additional reserves to strengthen their positions and achieve control of the city. As a result of successful promotion on the flanks, the enemy has established fire control over the roads leading from the city, which complicated the exit of Ukrainian units. DeepState analytical resource tracked the situation on this front of the front, periodically updating the fighting map.

According to cartographic data, the dynamics of the promotion of the enemy's forces indicated that the situation began to deteriorate sharply in mid -September. Even then, there were obvious attempts by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to strike flank blows in this direction in order to cover the settlement and take it in the "tick". However, despite the threat of the environment, the city's defenders of 72 OMBs continued to hold positions.

The situation in the carbon direction was also commented on analysts at the Institute of War Study (ISW). According to them, the capture of the coal followed by a series of expensive and unsuccessful offensives of the Russian army on this city over the last two and a half years.

In particular, Russia made two great attempts to seize a settlement in October-November 2022 and January-February 2023, which led to significant losses in personnel and equipment, in particular to the exhaustion of the 155th Brigade of the Marine Infantry of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the Ukrainian units noted in the ISW, despite the difficult operational situation in the area.

Analysts also named the units of the Russian army that participated in the capture of the coal-the 40th brigade of the Marines of the Pacific Fleet, the 36th Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 5th Pank Brigade and the 37th Motorized Brigade of the 430th Moto-Strip. and a brigade of the Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia (GRU). The ISW report also showed an assessment of the situation on the line of combat collision in the coal.

Analysts have pointed to some Russian sources that express doubts that the capture of the coal will lead to rapid and significant breakthroughs on the front line. Russian bloggers point to Ukrainian defensive positions northeast of the city and the need for Russian troops to complete the clearing of the city before using it as a platform for future attacks.

One of the Russian "military" tried to present coal as "the last Ukrainian city in the Southern Donetsk direction", assuming that its hobby would lead to significant changes in Ukrainian defense in the west of Donetsk region.

However, other bloggers criticize this argument, noting that even after the capture of this city, the Russian forces will have to break through several heavily fortified settlements, such as Konstantinovka, Dobropillya, Pokrovsk, Selidovo, Kurakhovo, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. At the same time, Western analysts emphasize, although the coal is not a large transport unit, some commentators believe that its capture can still affect further fighting.

In particular, control of the city will allow Russian troops to use railway pathways more effectively between Donetsk and Mariupol, significantly improving their logistics. However, in the near future, the enemy will soon have to maneuver open terrain in off -road conditions, which can significantly slow down their offensive operations. Soil roads used to movement troops will soon become unusable due to dirt.

The Executive Director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation told how the capture of the coal will affect further fighting in Donetsk region. In his opinion, despite the strategic importance of the city, its occupation will not provide the Russian troops with a decisive advantage. He explained that the city was located at a strategic height with a multi -storey building, which gave Ukrainian forces the opportunity to effectively defend and strike Russian troops.

The height made it possible to keep under fire control important rear communications of the Russian front line, including roads and railways, violating the enemy's logistics. Now Ukrainian troops will build a new line of defense to the north, in such settlements as Bogoyavlenko. An important factor is that there are no developed communications in the area that could give the Russians a similar advantage. Zhmaylo emphasized that the Russian strategy in the Donbass remains unchanged.