Hard Fights in Soledar, Ukraine

The Ukrainian Army General Staff also said on January 10th that the Russian Army is conducting offensive operations towards several cities in the eastern Donjeck region, including in Bahmut, Avdov and Lima, as Moscow is trying to improve its tactical position in the direction of Kupjani.

The Ukrainian army also said it has dropped two enemy fears.

British intelligence said on January 10th that it believes that “ax in Soledar for Russia will likely be an attempt to surround” from the north the nearby town of Bahmut “and disrupt the Ukrainian Army's” communications lines.

According to British intelligence assessment, “in the last four days, forces and [the group of mercenaries, Wagner] have made tactical advances” towards the mining town of Soledar and “are likely under the control of most of the territory of this town”.

Britain suggested that any pair of “would likely be concerned” over the possibility of the enemy using untapped tunnels of 200km of the mine, passing through the area.

The Ukrainian Army had earlier declared that Russian forces were again deployed in Soledar in the northeast of the Donjeck region after failing to take over the town of Bahmut.

Ukraine said Russian troops were beginning to regroup after Moscow unilaterally declared a ceasefire during the Orthodox Christmas weekend.

Ukrainian troops continue to maintain control of Soledari, said Donjeck regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko on January 9th, saying there are false “” reports that Russian troops have taken control of the city.

“Soledar is a hot spot, which almost has no infrastructure left, only for fortifications and mines”, he told Ukrainian television.

Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said that after an unsuccessful attempt to get Soledari, the enemy “has been regroupd, changed tactics and launched a powerful” attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the resistance of Ukrainian forces to fight the wave of attacks has helped the state gain time and strengthen.

The Russian Defence Ministry has not even mentioned Soledari and Bahmut in the update on January 9th. Ministry statements have focused on an alleged attack at a school in Kramatorsk, where dozens of Ukrainian troops were killed on January 7th. But, AP journalists who visited this country found no evidence of any major attacks, and local officials told reporters that no soldiers were killed in this country.

Bahmut and Soledari are located in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donjeck, which Russian President Vladimir Putin claims to have annexed. Putin has placed it a top priority to take full control of Donjeck and the neighbouring region, Luhansk ) making up Donbassin '% analysts said.