"That is, the enemy's forces had superiority in tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, anti-tank weapons, and personnel," said Oleksandr Okhrimenko, commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade.

Ukraine's armed forces commander General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday he had ordered defences to be strengthened in the eastern Donetsk region, a day after Kyiv forces announced they had withdrawn from the town of Vuhledar.

Ukrainian forces said Wednesday they had retreated from the stratgically key frontline town of Vuhledar in the eastern Donetsk region after two years of keeping invading Russian forces at bay.

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian troops have taken complete control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a bastion that had resisted intense Russian attacks since the beginning of the 2022 war, Russian war bloggers and media said on Wednesday.

Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko was appointed the new commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade after the transfer of his predecessor, Ivan Vinnik, the unit said.

Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko, Commander of the 72nd Separate Mechanised Brigade, has revealed details of the withdrawal from Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast, and the difficulties associated with evacuating the wounded soldiers.

Ukrainian servicemen faced a tactical encirclement during their withdrawal from Vuhledar, with enemy forces outnumbering them by a factor of nine, according to the new commander of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians,

The brigade has been fighting in some of the hottest spots in Donbas for over two years under Vinnik's leadership, including in Bakhmut, Mykilske, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane, and Vuhledar. Read also: Ukrainian military confirms troop withdrawal from Vuhledar "Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko will now lead the Black Zaporozhians into battle" the

Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko has been appointed as the new commander of the 72nd Separate Mechanised Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians after Ivan Vinnik's dismissal. Source: 72nd Brigade on Facebook Quote: "Colonel Oleksandr Okhrimenko will lead the Black Zaporozhians into battle from now on.