According to British estimates, Russian troops are making some progress in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Regular troops and units of the Wagner mercenary group have made tactical advances in Soledar, six miles to the north, over the past four days and are likely to control most of the small town, the defense ministry in London said.
According to British intelligence estimates, Bakhmut remains the main target of the Russian offensive. The advance to Soledar should encircle the city from the north and cut off Ukrainian lines of communication.
Disputed stud system
The fighting centered on the approaches to disused salt mine tunnels that run under the area and are about 200 kilometers long. “Both sides are likely to be concerned that they could be used to infiltrate behind their lines,” the statement said in London. Despite heightened pressure on Bakhmut, Russia is unlikely to take the city any time soon, as Ukrainian forces have built up a stable defense and continue to control supply routes.
On Monday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the heavily contested town of Soledar in the eastern Donetsk region as still very tense. It was “very difficult” for the Ukrainian soldiers in the heavily shelled city: there are hardly any intact walls left, Zelenskyj said in a video message.
“Battle for Donbass continues”
At the same time, he assured: “Even if the occupiers have now concentrated their greatest efforts on Soledar, the result of this hard and prolonged battle will be the liberation of our entire Donbass.” The resistance of the Ukrainian soldiers in Soledar is buying the entire army time, Zelenskyj said. “The battle for the Donbass continues.” Around Soledar, the land is “strewn with the corpses of the invaders,” said the head of state.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar had recently reported massive Russian attacks on the city. Soledar, together with neighboring Bakhmut, is part of the Ukrainian defensive wall for the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk conurbation.
Source: Krone
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