Naval infantry catastrophe: BBC reveals Russia's losses in Vuhledar

Vuhledar is considered a strategically important location, and the fiercest and bloodiest battles for the city took place in the fall of 2022 and winter of 2023. During these assaults, elite Naval infantry units - the 155th and 40th brigades - were deployed, supported by infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, along with motorized rifle units comprised of mobilized soldiers and volunteers.

Based on open data, the BBC confirmed that at least 211 marines from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces were killed during the assaults on Vuhledar, with another 42 reported missing.

This figure is nearly four times more than the losses of this unit over ten years of war in Chechnya. Among the deceased are 19 officers, including battalion commander Tsyren Lubsanov.

Alongside the 155th brigade, marines from the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky participated in these battles. The agency confirmed the deaths of 72 soldiers and officers from this unit.

Additionally, the serious losses of the Naval infantry are evidenced by the fact that units from Storm Z, formed from prisoners in Russian colonies, were included in the 155th and 40th brigades.

Situation in Vuhledar

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have been defending Vuhledar for over two years, successfully repelling numerous attacks from Russian troops. However, last week, soldiers from the 72nd brigade began to leave the city as supply routes were cut off.

On October 2, the operational-strategic group of forces Khortytsia confirmed the withdrawal of defense forces from the city to preserve personnel and military equipment.

According to the 72nd brigade, the evacuation of the wounded from Vuhledar was complicated due to enemy pressure from the flanks. However, the withdrawal from the city helped minimize losses as much as possible.

Yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented for the first time on the Armed Forces' withdrawal from Vuhledar.