Russias Defense Ministry stated Friday that the nations Armed Forces had captured eastern Ukraines salt-mining town of Soledar, some 48 hours after the victory was declared by the head of Russias mercenary company Wagner.The capture of Soledar is an essential goal for the Russian military in a bigger project to take control of the strategic Donetsk area city of Bakhmut 15 kilometers to the southwest, where strong battles have actually been raving for months.If real, the towns capture would mark Russias very first considerable success on the battlefield in months following a sweeping Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east last fall.
The freedom of Soledar was finished on the evening of Jan.
12, which is necessary for the continuation of successful offensive operations in the Donetsk direction, the armed force stated in an everyday briefing.The Defense Ministry stated the capture of Soledar will cut off supply lines for the staying Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut and permit their encirclement.The Defense Ministry credited its air travel, rocket and airborne forces for the assault, which it stated killed 700 Ukrainian troops and 300 weapons in 3 days.
Kyiv rejected that Russia was in control of Soledar, stating heavy combating was ongoing.
Severe fighting is going on in Soledar, stated Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesperson for the eastern group of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Ukraines militaries have the scenario under control in tough conditions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday night that Ukrainian forces defending Bakhmut and Soledar would be equipped with whatever they need to keep Russian soldiers at bay in some of the bloodiest battles of the nearly 11-month war.But Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said it wont be an escape but a planned choice by the command if Kyivs forces decide to pull back from Soledar.On Wednesday, Wagner creator and Kremlin-linked magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin had declared that his forces recorded Soledar without the Armed Forces participation.
Hours later, the Russian military appointed General Valery Gerasimov to lead Russias troops in Ukraine, changing alleged Prigozhin ally Sergei Surovikin in the role.Underscoring the rift between Wagner and the military, Prigozhin on Friday named infighting, corruption, administration and officials holding on to their seats as a significant risk to Wagners presence.
They constantly try to take victory from Wagner PMC and attempt to belittle its merits, he said through his company, Concord, in an action to an unassociated media query.