After the 951st day of heroic defense, the city of Vugledar was wiped off the face of the earth, and its ruins were captured by invaders from the russian federation. By 2022, the city’s population was 17,000 people, and mineral deposits were estimated at 5.5 billion tons of highly concentrated coking coal and 3.5 million cubic meters of coal methane.
Thus, the percentage of the occupied territory of Donetsk region of Ukraine reached 71%, bringing the front line closer to Zaporizhzhia region (73% occupied) and Dnipro region. This means that 22% of Ukraine is now under the occupation of the russian federation, which is 129,000 square kilometers, which is comparable to the territory of the Greek Republic.
The advance of russian troops, in comparison with 02.10.2023, is 36 thousand square kilometers. They achieved this result at the cost of 376,482 lives of their citizens, who support the imperial policy of aggression of their government.
As we can see on the map of the defense lines, the russians are increasing their movement in the direction of the most unprotected part of the front, where there are almost no fortifications – between Kurakhov and Velika Novosilka. Three villages are between them and a breakthrough into operational spaces – Novoukrayinka, Bogoyavlenka and Maksimivka. How many more heroic defenders of Ukraine will give their lives for democratic liberal values and human rights? – An open question that is difficult to find an answer to, because every day the best citizens of Europe leave this world, due to the lack of weapons and restrictions on their use.
At the same time, the russians have no restrictions on the ways and means of waging war, which they constantly prove with statements about a nuclear strike on federal television and from highest country leaders and representatives. russia’s military budget is $374 billion, about 30% of which ($142 billion) will be spent on defense (excluding aid from Iran, China, and North Korea) which is almost 584% more than Ukraine’s ($64 billion). The gap is colossal. And there is no doubt that the economic power of russia will use all available funds for continued expansion.
The invaders do not feel a shortage of people who want to enrich themselves at the expense of fertile Ukrainian lands. To capture 22% of the territory of Ukraine, according to the official figures of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the russians spent 655,000 lives of their citizens, which is only 0.4% of their total population. Simple mathematics allows us to calculate that they will need up to 2% of their population to conquer the entire territory of Ukraine. There is no doubt that as long as the tactics of “meat assaults” are combined in the hundreds of air defense systems that fly daily on Ukrainian defenders and the civilian population is working, they will use it. Would Europe cope with such an onslaught of hordes if it were in Ukraine’s shoes? The question is rhetorical, and it is difficult to assume that there will be many willing to test it in practice.
Doubts about supporting Ukraine are growing in Europe, increasingly limiting its ability to confront russia. Increase military support for Ukraine, or prepare to meet russia in battle? – a question that European society needs to solve urgently, because Ukrainian resources are reaching their limit, and new opportunities are limited due to nuclear blackmail. Time is relentless. As we speak, Ukrainians are losing their lives every minute.
