Russian forces are attempting to advance into the small town of Soledar near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Marial told Telegram on Monday.
“After failing [previous] After occupying Soledar and attempting to retreat, the enemy regrouped, recovered its losses, deployed additional attacking units, changed tactics, and launched a powerful attack. Engaged by numerous assault groups formed from the best reserves of the army, the enemy literally advances on the corpses of their own soldiers, making heavy use of artillery, multiple rocket launchers and mortars. , even our own fighters are covered in fire.”
“Fierce fighting continues,” she added.
Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian military spokesman Serhii Cherevatyi told Ukrainian TV that Russia had “succeeded in concentrating its forces more” around Soleda, and that “regular” military and civilian He said he deployed both mercenaries to work for Wagner, the group.
Wagner Group leader Evgeny Prigozhin said on Sunday that it was one of the reasons he wanted to take over Bahmut and Soledar to control the region’s mine system, which he described as a “network of underground cities.” .
Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Army, said they were trying to evacuate civilians from Soledar, but not everyone was willing to leave.
“Soledar is really destroyed,” he said. “There are residents out there. Everything is being done to evacuate them. I am very afraid to move to, we are communicating with them but not always everyone agrees [to leave]”
Sunday night, President Volodymur zelensky said Soledar “held up” but was “very difficult”.
