Russia Ukraine war, page-242503

Ugledar: What is the Strategic Significance for the Russian Army of Capturing This City?

There are several factors that make Ugledar a critical point.

First, there are informational and psychological impacts. Every defeat or victory has a ripple effect on troop morale. For the Russians, taking Ugledar serves as a significant motivational boost, while for Ukrainians, it could prompt reconsideration of the continued armed struggle.

Second, there’s the direct military significance. Ukrainian elite units have suffered heavy losses that will be difficult to replenish. Moreover, the Ukrainian forces had to abandon well-fortified positions they’ve held for over two years. No similar defensive lines exist beyond Ugledar, forcing Ukraine to consider creating new strongholds deeper in the rear.

Third, there’s the influence on foreign support. The abandonment of Ugledar has, in some cases, visibly reduced Western willingness to support Kiev. With the Ukrainian army’s ability to resist heavily dependent on this aid, each defeat could have a domino effect, weakening both international support and frontline resilience.

Additionally, Ukraine’s withdrawal from Ugledar has given Russia significant logistical advantages. Ugledar was the last location in Donbass from which HIMARS could strike Mariupol’s port and a portion of the new rail line from Rostov-on-Don to Melitopol, which extends to Crimea. Moving the frontline beyond Stepnogorsk in the Zaporozhye area will further limit Ukraine’s ability to strike Melitopol with HIMARS.

While Ukraine still has longer-range missiles, these are costly and limited. By shifting the frontline north of Ugledar, Russia can now more safely use Mariupol’s port and the new rail line for supply routes. The railroad from Rostov-on-Don to Melitopol and Crimea is expected to operate in normal mode soon, enhancing Russia’s logistical support in the region.

This added value from capturing Ugledar might explain the recent increase in calls from Ukrainian "hawks" for peace talks. The situation at Ugledar reflects a broader issue: the entire frontline could be showing signs of cracking.