Pentagon does not confirm that Soledar has been captured by Russia
The US Department of Defense has not confirmed that Soledar in Donetsk Oblast has been captured by the Russian occupiers.
Source: Ukrinform, citing a statement by US Department of Defense spokesman General Patrick Ryder during a briefing on Thursday
Quote from Ryder: "We do continue to see intense and heavy fighting around Soledar and Bakhmut, which of course is relatively close. We cannot corroborate any reports that Soledar has been taken by Russian forces."
Details: He noted that information about the capture of the town had been circulating in the media, with reports indicating that Soledar had allegedly been taken over by the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) Group.
"But we do know that the Ukrainians continue to operate in the vicinity of Soledar. And continue to fight back," the Pentagon spokesman added.
Background:
- The press office of Wagner PMC owner Yevgeny Prigozhin published a photo allegedly from Soledar's salt mine and reported that the entire town had supposedly been taken under the fighters' control.
- At the same time, on the evening of 11 January, the Ukrainian General Staff reported that fighting was continuing in Soledar and that the occupiers were trying to take control of the Ukrainian military's supply routes on the Bakhmut front.
- Zelenskyy stressed in an evening video address on 12 January that the Ukrainian defenders were holding the city.
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