Russian Forces Outnumbered Ukrainian Defenders in Vuhledar Assault by Nine to One

Russian troops aimed at capturing Vuhledar in the Donetsk region significantly outnumbered the defending Ukrainian forces, with a ratio of approximately 9:1, according to Oleksandr Okhrimenko, commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, in an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet Glavkom published on October 8.

Okhrimenko noted that Moscow deployed several units for the final assault on Vuhledar, including the 36th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, the 39th Brigade, the 57th Brigade, and the 91st Separate Rifle Regiment.

"The enemy had superiority in tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, anti-tank weapons, and personnel," the commander stated.

He explained that an attacking force typically gains an advantage if it has three times the number of troops and resources as its opponent, a principle recognized in military doctrine worldwide.

"In Vuhledar, the ratio was 1:9, making it clear what our chances were of holding the settlement and maintaining the defensive line in the brigade's sector," he added.

Ukrainian Armed Forces announced their withdrawal from Vuhledar on October 2, after Russian forces initially overwhelmed the town's flanks and then moved into the urban area.

The 72nd Mechanized Brigade had defended Vuhledar, a key stronghold in Ukraine's defense of the southern Donetsk region, for over two years without rotation.

Located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the administrative border with the Zaporizhzhia region, Vuhledar has been under heavy Russian attack since 2022.