Russia announced on Friday the conquest of Soledar, in eastern Ukraine, hours after kyiv admitted that the situation was difficult in the city, but that its forces continued to resist.
“On the night of January 12, the liberation of the city of Soledar, which is important for the continuation of successful offensive operations in the direction of Donetsk, was completed,” the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official agency. Russian TASS.
According to Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, control of Soledar makes it possible to cut off the supply routes of the Ukrainian troops in Artemovsk, located to the southwest.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Ukrainian authorities of Russia’s claim.
Hours earlier, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar had said that Ukrainian forces were facing a Russian “high intensity offensive” in Soledar.
Soledar’s fall would mark a rare victory for Russia after a series of military setbacks in the war that began with the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year.
Source: TSF
