Kiev, 2 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Russia has captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, the Ukrainian army confirmed on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian unit defending the town wrote on its Telegram channel that the high command ordered a retreat in order to "rescue personnel and military equipment."

Military observers on both sides had reported on Tuesday that Russian troops had captured the mining town in the Donetsk region, but there was initially no official confirmation from Kiev.

Vuhledar has been a heavily fortified frontline area since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian troops have been advancing in eastern Ukraine for months and have conquered several small towns in the region, after Ukraine transferred brigades from eastern Ukraine to support a new operation in the Russian border area of Kursk in August.

The Russian army had suffered major losses during previous unsuccessful advances on Vuhledar, but its forces managed to bypass the town's fortifications and threatened to surround it in recent days.

Russian military bloggers said there were likely still a few remaining Ukrainian soldiers in the city.

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