Russian troops reach centre of Ukrainian bastion Vuhledar

Regional governor says situation is very tough in city that has strategic significance

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KYIV Russian troops have reached the centre of Vuhledar, a bastion on strategic high ground in eastern Ukraine that had resisted Russian assaults since Moscow's full-scale invasion, the regional governor of Ukraine's Donetsk region said on Oct 1.

Footage posted to social media showed Russian soldiers waving a flag from atop a bombed-out multi-storey building and unfurling another flag on a metal spire on a roof. Reuters determined the footage matched the street patterns of Vuhledar.

Other images showed smoke rising over the ruins of the small mining town, a major battlefield where Ukrainian units had held off previous armoured Russian assaults throughout 22 years of war.

"The enemy is already nearly in the centre of the city," regional governor Vadym Filashkin told Ukrainian TV, describing the situation as very difficult.

Vuhledar has strategic significance because of its high ground and its location near the junction of the two main fronts, in eastern and southern Ukraine. Russian forces reached the outskirts last week and intensified their offensive push in recent days.