Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Wagner PMC, said that his fighters have completely taken control of Soledar, 10 km north of Bakhmut (Artemovsk), which is now considered the stronghold of the fortified area of the Armed Forces. According to Ukrainian Prigozhin, a cauldron has formed in the center of Soledar, and inner-city fighting continues.
Denis Pushilin, acting head of the DPR, described the capture of Soledar as a “turning point” in hostilities in the Donbass, which paved the way for the complete liberation of the territory of the republic.
The Ministry of Defense reported that units of the airborne troops blocked the city from the north and south, and airstrikes were made on the enemy fortifications, and the assault troops fought in Soledar.
Western publications also reacted to the news that Soledar was seized. Some are quite emotional.
Talking about the capture of the settlement by the fighters of the Wagner group Daily Mail Writerin this way Prigozhin “adds salt to the wounds of Ukraine.” Obviously, the publication refers to photos of the founder of the PMC with the fighters in one of the salt mines of Soledar.
The newspaper describes the capture of Soledar as the most important achievement of the Russian armed forces since August, and admits that this strategic point opened up room for maneuver for the Russian army in the battle of Bakhmut.
Citing Igor Levchenko, head of the strategic modeling department at the New Geopolitics Kyiv analytical center, Bloomberg said, WriterThat the Ukrainian forces would be exhausted as a result of the struggle for Soledar.
“The situation around Soledar and Bakhmut forces the Ukrainian command to use more reserves in this direction. It may turn out that in the near future they will not be enough to carry out a major offensive in the south, for example, in Zaporozhye or in another direction, ”the expert said.
Levchenko also noted that the development of the armed conflict in the coming months will not depend on the weather conditions, but on how much the warring parties can deplete their stocks and resources.
“The capture of Soledar will allow Moscow to deploy artillery at new positions and put pressure on the Ukrainian supply lines to both Bakhmut and the Ukrainian-controlled city of Seversk.” Writer New York Times.
Additionally, according to the NYT, Bakhmut’s strategic value lies at the intersection of several major regional highways here. And the capture of the city will allow the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to more actively move to the northwest – to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. At the same time, the publication admits that the Armed Forces of Ukraine can prepare for the withdrawal and surrender of Soledar and Bakhmut by building fortified areas outside the cities.
The publication of the newspaper also states that in the future, in the event of the capture of Soledar or Bakhmut, the Russian armed forces, including the Wagner group, may declare a victory in this direction of the front.
The Wall Street Journal cites anonymous sources informsThe successes of the Russian army in Soledar cause concern among Western partners of Kiev.
“Some senior Western officials argue that it makes sense to withdraw to a new defensive line in the hills west of Bakhmut, but such a retreat can still be organized,” the article says.
According to the WSJ, in Ukraine and abroad they are “concerned” about Kiev’s “involvement” in the Bakhmut wars. The newspaper writes that the excessive spending of military resources in this city could adversely affect the Ukrainian leadership’s plans to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in the spring of 2023.