On 10 January 2022, in the late afternoon, official media sources of the Russian Wagner PMC stated that the cirty of Soledar had been captured by Russian units.
Soledar was one of the key points of defence of the AFU in the East of Ukraine. The city is home to Europe’s largest salt production facility.
Evgeny Prigoggin, head of the Wagner PMC, announced:
“Wagner PMC units have taken control of the entire territory of Soledar. A cauldron has been formed in the centre of the city, where urban fighting is taking place. The number of prisoners will be announced tomorrow.
I should like to stress once again that no units other than those of the Wagner Cheka were involved in the storming of Soledar.”
Prigozhin himself was also in the ranks of his warriors in Soledar.
Prigozhin and his soldiers stand at the Salt Mine Museum, which is already closer to the western outskirts of Soledar, confirming full control of the town.
It is currently known that the city, for the most part including the centre, was occupied by Wagner PMC assault groups. The PMC units took all the dominant heights around the city, including Yurchina Mountain, taking direct fire control of the AFU supply roads and outposts. Several hundred more Ukrainian soldiers reportedly remain in the city.
A mopping-up of the city is underway.
The active phase of fighting for Soledar lasted more than four months, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defences were resistant to regular army units and they were subsequently withdrawn from the front line. It took the Wagner Group just over two weeks to take the city directly.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- Huge AFU Losses In Bakhmut Amid Firmness Of Ukrainian Soldiers (Video)
- Military Overview: Battle For Soledar On January 9, 2022
- In Video: ‘This Is What Defence Of Bakhmut Looks Like’
