Ukrainian military concedes ceding Soledar to Russian forces
Ukrainian soldiers, near Soledar in the Donetsk region, January 23, 2023. REUTERS - STRINGER
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Two weeks after the announcement of its capture by Moscow, the Ukrainian army admitted, on Wednesday January 25, that it had ceded the town of Soledar, in the east of the country, to the Russians.
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The Ukrainians had so far refused to recognize the loss of Soledar.
"
After months of difficult fighting (...) the Ukrainian armed forces left it
" to "
retreat to prepared positions
", military spokesman for the eastern zone Serguiï Tcherevaty told AFP, refusing however, to specify when this retreat took place.
This small town in the Donetsk region of 11,000 inhabitants before the war, known for its salt mines, is located near Bakhmout, another hot spot in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian paramilitary group
Wagner announced that it had taken Soledar
as early as January 11,
followed by the Russian army on January 13
.
"
Using the Enemy
"
Soledar's strategic importance has been disputed, with the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) saying it was "
not an operationally significant development
".
The Russian army, on the other hand, presents the conquest of Soledar as a key step to encircle the neighboring city of Bakhmout, which it has been seeking to capture since the summer and where both sides are facing heavy losses.
Soledar's retreat was "
controlled, no encirclement or massive capture of our soldiers took place
", for his part assured Serguiï Tcherevaty, who denied any "
leak
" of Ukrainian soldiers.
Before retreating, the Ukrainian troops "
inflicted incredible losses
" on the Russians, he further assured, stressing that the Ukrainian strategy in this area was to "
wear out the enemy
".
"
The fighting continues
"
A Russian occupation official in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an advance by Russian troops in Bakhmout, citing the capture of Soledar as the determining factor.
According to Sergiï Tcherevaty however, these assertions “
do not correspond to reality
”.
“
The fighting continues.
The situation is difficult, but under control
,” he added.
(
With
AFP)
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