The head of Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group has claimed to have secured control of the salt mining town of Soledar in Ukraine’s east, but uncertainty remains amid continued battles in the city centre.

Soledar has been the focus of days of intense fighting as Russia has viewed it as key to its campaign for the nearby strategic city of Bakhmut and Ukraine’s larger eastern Donbas region.
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.

The Russian state RIA news agency later issued a report saying that Wagner Group had taken over Soledar’s salt mines following “fierce fighting”, while Prigozhin shared a photo of himself surrounded by his mercenaries in what he said was one of the mines.

Still, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC-based think tank, expressed caution about the Russian claims.

“Russian forces have not captured the entirety of #Soledar despite false Russian claims that the city has fallen and that #Bakhmut risks imminent encirclement,” it said in a Twitter thread, noting that Prigozhin himself had acknowledged urban warfare was continuing.

Heavy cost
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not mention control of Soledar in his regular video address on Tuesday evening when he repeated his call for more Western weapons, saying Russia was looking to intensify its military campaign. He did not provide details.

But Ukraine’s Defence Ministry tweeted late on Tuesday, “Even after suffering colossal losses, Russia is still maniacally trying to seize Soledar — home to the largest salt mine in Europe.”
Source Aljazeera

So Russia had to also involve mercenaries after suffering heavy losses of its soldiers

God bless the leader of the free world...

Nbote:
So Russia had to also involve mercenaries after suffering heavy losses of its soldiers

West have brainwashed you,
West calls their retired military men WAR VETERANS while the same double standard western terrorist calls retired Russia army WAGNER MERCENARY hahaha
All Wagner forces are retired Russian soldiers that's why you see them look old but they are tough as Ukrainian Banderas are confirming it in the east, they can operate every weapons they lay their hands on , URAAAAAA!!!
We must defeat ANGLO SAXON TERRORISTS IN UKRAINE

UKRAINE IS NOT VIETNAM AND SO, US AND NATO MUST DRIVE RUSSIA BACK TO HER MAINLAND.

Nbote:
So Russia had to also involve mercenaries after suffering heavy losses of its soldiers

It's a sign of failure.

greatness77:
West have brainwashed you,
West calls their retired military men WAR VETERANS while the same double standard western terrorist calls retired Russia army WAGNER MERCENARY hahaha
All Wagner forces are retired Russian soldiers that's why you see them look old but they are tough as Ukrainian Banderas are confirming it in the east, they can operate every weapons they lay their hands on , URAAAAAA!!!
We must defeat ANGLO SAXON TERRORISTS IN UKRAINE

You are a RUSSIAN URCHIN.

Beautiful.

greatness77:
West have brainwashed you,
West calls their retired military men WAR VETERANS while the same double standard western terrorist calls retired Russia army WAGNER MERCENARY hahaha
All Wagner forces are retired Russian soldiers that's why you see them look old but they are tough as Ukrainian Banderas are confirming it in the east, they can operate every weapons they lay their hands on , URAAAAAA!!!
We must defeat ANGLO SAXON TERRORISTS IN UKRAINE

God bless putin God bless mother Russia....... Uraaaaaa.

greatness77:
West have brainwashed you,
West calls their retired military men WAR VETERANS while the same double standard western terrorist calls retired Russia army WAGNER MERCENARY hahaha
All Wagner forces are retired Russian soldiers that's why you see them look old but they are tough as Ukrainian Banderas are confirming it in the east, they can operate every weapons they lay their hands on , URAAAAAA!!!
We must defeat ANGLO SAXON TERRORISTS IN UKRAINE

Don't know how accurate you are here. WAGNER is a Private paraMilitary group and not made up of retired military men

Nbote:
So Russia had to also involve mercenaries after suffering heavy losses of its soldiers

The Wagner Group have been on the battle ground right from beginning of this conflict.

Recall some Nairalanders have repeatedly said Russia ain't really using most of their military might. That might be true.

Russia seems to have private Military companies which are like private soldiers that take on battles the entire Russian soldiers ain't really interested in.

Just like in Northern Nigeria, we have Civilian JTF and in Police force, we have Anti-Robbery squad

bassdow:


Don't know how accurate you are here. WAGNER is a Private paraMilitary group and not made up of retired military men

Wrong. Wagner is the equivalent of black water. Its majority retired military with higher pay

The city name reminds me of my beloved childhood song titled "Soledad" by Westlife.

Putin noise makers all round

Russia and lies
https://mobile.twitter.com/i/web/status/1613616934607810560

greatness77:
The head of Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group has claimed to have secured control of the salt mining town of Soledar in Ukraine’s east, but uncertainty remains amid continued battles in the city centre.

Soledar has been the focus of days of intense fighting as Russia has viewed it as key to its campaign for the nearby strategic city of Bakhmut and Ukraine’s larger eastern Donbas region.
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.

The Russian state RIA news agency later issued a report saying that Wagner Group had taken over Soledar’s salt mines following “fierce fighting”, while Prigozhin shared a photo of himself surrounded by his mercenaries in what he said was one of the mines.

Still, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC-based think tank, expressed caution about the Russian claims.

“Russian forces have not captured the entirety of #Soledar despite false Russian claims that the city has fallen and that #Bakhmut risks imminent encirclement,” it said in a Twitter thread, noting that Prigozhin himself had acknowledged urban warfare was continuing.

Heavy cost
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not mention control of Soledar in his regular video address on Tuesday evening when he repeated his call for more Western weapons, saying Russia was looking to intensify its military campaign. He did not provide details.

But Ukraine’s Defence Ministry tweeted late on Tuesday, “Even after suffering colossal losses, Russia is still maniacally trying to seize Soledar — home to the largest salt mine in Europe.”
Source Aljazeera

Russia and lies

https://mobile.twitter.com/i/web/status/1613616934607810560