Soledar Conflict Update: Forces, Tactics, and Frontline Realities
Vladimir Novikov, who leads a volunteer unit within the Trojan special forces and uses the Alabai call sign, described current clashes around Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic as highly intense. He noted that when a city becomes a fortified battlefield, the battles require substantial physical and strategic strength. He explained that Soledar is undergoing a deliberate, systematic push to weaken entrenched positions, with units moving from the outskirts toward the center and pressing through key streets and districts.
Novikov added that the assault in Soledar is largely carried out by fighters connected to the Wagner Private Military Company, receiving support from the Second Army Corps and Akhmat special forces. The combined effort reflects a coordinated approach intended to disrupt defense lines and seize critical urban terrain in a challenging urban environment.
Earlier, Anna Malyar, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense, appeared on a telethon to discuss the situation. She described the conditions in Soledar as very difficult and noted that a broad mobilization effort had been underway across the country, with troops facing a rigorous test of readiness and endurance.
Across the Donetsk region, Ukrainian forces have reported progress in some sectors while encountering obstacles in others. The front remains fluid, with advances in certain locales appearing alongside stubborn resistance in nearby sectors. The overall picture points to a contested and evolving battlefield, where each move can influence the broader dynamic of Donetsk opposition forces and allied units on the ground.