“The exhausted and depleted 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, which barely made it out of Vuhledar, was immediately sent to new positions”, – journalist reported

The 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after the Black Zaporozhians, has been severely depleted by continuous battles in Vuhledar without rotations. After a difficult retreat, they were not given any rest and were ordered to take up new positions.

This was reported by war correspondent Yuliya Kirienko-Merinova on Facebook.

According to her, the unit was told to occupy positions that the 123rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade from the Mykolaiv region had “refused” to hold.

“This particular unit was supposed to support the 72nd Brigade in Vuhledar. But the Territorial Defense infantry scattered, and then the battalion commander committed suicide. Because of them, the 72nd delayed their withdrawal from Vuhledar, as they were still hoping for support,” the journalist wrote.

Kirienko-Merinova confirms that there was no official command to withdraw from the city, as the soldiers had stated, despite the “Khortytsia” Operational Command claiming that an order had been given. As a result, the retreat was carried out with losses.

Overall, during their service, some of the seven battalions within the 72nd Brigade have been left without infantry. Despite this, the brigade was once again sent to positions without a break.

“I think you can imagine the moral and psychological state of the soldiers. Even commanders are submitting reports asking to be relieved of command,” Kirienko-Merinova wrote.

Previously, Ukrainian soldiers had discussed the reasons for losing Vuhledar, with many criticizing the country’s top leadership for not issuing a withdrawal order from the city until it was too late.