The Kremlin has made capturing the Bakhmut - and Soledar with it - its primary objective after nearly one year of fighting, having been forced to abandon more ambitious goals such as seizing the capital Kyiv.
BAKHMUT - President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Ukrainian forces defending Bakhmut and Soledar in the east would be armed with everything they need to keep Russian troops at bay in some of the bloodiest battles of the war.
Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said earlier the fight for Soledar was "the fiercest and heaviest" of the war.Although Russian mercenary group Wagner claimed early Wednesday its forces had captured Soledar, the defence ministry in Moscow said fighting was ongoing and Ukraine denied any full takeover.
The Kremlin on Thursday praised the "heroic" work by Russian forces working to capture the eastern Donetsk region from Ukraine and on other fronts. On Thursday, he visited Moscow's ally Belarus to inspect a joint regional force stationed there, the defence ministry in Moscow said. Its capture, however, would allow Russia to sell a much-needed victory back home after months of humiliating battlefield reversals.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BATTLE FOR SOLEDAR: Russia’s Wagner Group claims ‘liberation’ of Soledar, says about 500 Ukrainians killedJan 11 (Reuters) — The head of Russia's private military firm Wagner on Wednesday said his forces had achieved the complete ‘liberation’ of the eastern Ukrainian mining town of Soledar, killing around 500 pro-Ukraine troops.
Read more »
Battle outcome for control of Ukraine’s Soledar remains uncertainRussian mercenaries claim victory, but fighting continues as Ukraine says Russian forces are still trying to seize control of the town, home to the largest salt mine in Europe
Read more »
Fate of Ukraine's Soledar unclear as Wagner claims controlThe fate of the Ukrainian city of Soledar was unclear on Wednesday, with Russian mercenary group Wagner claiming control of it while also saying 'u...
Read more »
UKRAINE UPDATE: 12 JANUARY 2023: Zelensky says invasion won’t escalate to World War 3; Russia puts hardened Wagner units near SoledarUkraine will stop Russian aggression and the conflict won’t turn into World War 3, president Volodymyr Zelensky said as his forces battled to keep control of Soledar and Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region.
Read more »
Battle for Soledar: Russia’s war on Ukraine latest: Moscow’s forces have likely captured most of eastern mining town, UK saysJan 10 (Reuters) — Britain said Russia had probably captured most of a mining town in eastern Ukraine where Kyiv accused Moscow of sacrificing wave upon wave of mercenaries and soldiers in a horrific and senseless battle over wasteland.
Read more »
UKRAINE UPDATE: 13 JANUARY 2023: Russia seeks to make more men eligible for draft; ‘fierce battles’ rage near SoledarRussia may start drafting men as old as 30 this spring under a plan outlined by a senior legislator as the military pushes to expand its ranks after it lost ground in Ukraine.
Read more »