Russian troops took control of Soledar town in Ukraine on Tuesday. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Chief of Wagner, Russia’s private military group disclosed this development to media.
Prigozhin said the Russian troops have taken control of the salt mining town of Soledar in Ukraine’s east. He, however, said a battle is still ragging in the city center.
Soledar appeared the key focus of war as Russia viewed it as a vital city to its campaign for Bakhmut and Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
“Wagner units took control of the entire territory of Soledar. A cauldron has been formed in the center of the city wherein fighting is going on,” Prigozhin said. He is considered a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The number of Ukrainian prisoners will be announced today (Wednesday),” he added.
Wagner chief said the encircled Ukrainian troops had been asked to surrender by midnight on Tuesday
It was not possible to verify the conditions on the ground and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the situation.
“Wagner units took control of the entire territory of Soledar. A cauldron has been formed in the centre of the city in which urban fighting is going on,” Russian news agencies reported Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as saying late on Tuesday.
“The number of prisoners will be announced tomorrow,” Prigozhin added. The encircled Ukrainian soldiers had been given an ultimatum to surrender by midnight (22:00 GMT), the group said on Telegram.
Soledar is about 15km (9 miles) from Bakhmut, and its capture would have symbolic, military and commercial value for Russia.
Soledar is 15-km (9 miles) away from Bakhmut, and its seizure would have a significant military and commercial value for Russia.
