The fighter from the Cascade operational combat unit of the Donetsk People’s Republic, who uses the Gypsy call sign, spoke to the newspaper Izvestia about how Ukrainian forces reportedly captured a fortified position on their own. He described a night when Russian units were under heavy fire from Ukrainian troops and the defenders felt the danger of a looming collapse if no action was taken.
He recalled that Ukrainian forces opened fire with grenade launchers, mortars, and a tank, and casualties began to mount among the Russian fighters. In his account, the intensity of the assault seemed to exhaust the defenders, which prompted him to consider a bold response to prevent further losses and perhaps a larger collapse of the position.
The soldier chose to press the attack, convinced that the enemy might be tired from sustaining the sustained gunfire. He moved toward the stronghold, determined to reclaim the initiative and to disrupt the enemy’s hold on the fortification.
According to his description, the approach to the castle unfolded room by room. In the first chamber, he advanced, and in the second, he observed the enemy at his position, attempting to suppress the incoming assault with a machine gun. He did not hesitate, throwing a grenade into the area and proceeding further into the structure.
This account complements earlier reports that Ukrainian forces in Vuhledar used nearby houses as defensive bulwarks, turning civilian-style structures into defenders’ strongpoints. The narrative reflects a moment of high-stakes combat where the balance of control shifted under fire, and individual decisions played a critical role in the outcome of the engagement.