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Russian troops have intensified attacks led by Wagner militia units in Soledar, near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Telegram on Monday (January 9) that although Ukrainian forces repulsed an earlier attempt to take the city, Wagner's units quickly changed tactics and brought in additional soldiers, Reuters reported.The Guardian reported citing the UK Ministry of Defense that Russia and Wagner have made tactical advances in the last four days and "probably control most" of Soledar.
image source : photoukraine.com
Ukrainian Eastern Military Command spokesman Serhii Cherevatyi said Soledar was "virtually destroyed" in fighting for more than five months, according to The Kyiv Independent. The Russians "have concentrated their greatest efforts on Soledar," CNN quoted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as saying in his late-night speech on Monday. “It is extremely difficult, almost no walls are left intact.” Located in the Donetsk region, Soledar, about 15 kilometers from Bakhmut, has seen heavy fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine last year in February. A few days ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's most high-profile mercenary group Wagner, explained in detail why the capture of Bakhmut would be important in the war.
What is in Bakhmut's “underground cities” and what is in Soledar? Why is the Wagner group going after the two cities? Let's take a closer look.
