MOSCOW, 27 Jan. Russian troops have entrenched themselves in the east and southeast of Vugledar, Jan Gagin, adviser to the acting head of the DPR, said on the Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"Now there are fighting there, artillery is working. Separate groups are trying to dive into the city itself to conduct reconnaissance in force,” he said.
Gagin also noted that on the outskirts of the settlement “quite serious, fierce battles are going on.”
He added that Vuhledar is a small city and a significant part of it is occupied by an industrial zone, including two mines in which the enemy can hide.
«You have to understand that there will be no quick offensive here,» Gagin explained.
On Thursday, adviser to the acting head of the DPR, Igor Kimakovsky, said that Russian troops had entered the city and entrenched themselves on its outskirts. The main task of the allied forces now is not a frontal attack on Ugledar, but to pincer the city by analogy with Soledar.
Earlier, Acting Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin said that the liberation of the settlement could radically change the balance of power at the front. The capture of Vuhledar will make it possible to solve many of the tasks facing the Russian military, he stressed. Thus, the liberation of the city will provide access to the Krasnoarmeyskoye and Kurakhovskoye directions.
From February 24, Russia has been conducting a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» The Armed Forces are faced with the task of liberating the Donbass and guaranteeing the security of Russia.