A Russian-installed official in the eastern Donetsk region confirmed that Ukrainian forces were still fighting in the town of Soledar. The confirmation comes despite claims by the Wagner mercenary group’s chief that the key town was completely under Russian control.
In broadcasted remarks on Thursday, Russian-installed Donetsk official Andrei Bayevsky undermined the claim by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces were fighting at the frontlines in Soledar. Bayevsky said there were still some parts of the town where Ukrainian forces were pushing back but that the western outskirts of Soledar are under Russian control.
“At the moment, there are still some small pockets of resistance in Soledar,” said Bayevsky. “Our guys continue to push the enemy in these places. In general, the operation has been going well, and already the western outskirts of Soledar are completely under our control.”
Western military analysts have also refuted Prigozhin’s claims about Soledar, saying that Russian forces have not fully seized control of the town even with the recent advances. Should Russian forces succeed, it would mark the first territorial advance since July last year.
In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were holding their positions in Soledar, inflicting significant damage on Russian troops. Zelenskyy also thanked the two Ukrainian units engaging in the fighting in Soledar but did not give further details.
Zelenskyy also said he met with senior Ukrainian commanders and discussed what reinforcements are needed in the battle for Soledar and other nearby towns, as well as what measures to take in the coming days.
The Pentagon said that Russia’s shortcomings in the war it is waging on Ukraine are likely the reason for the personnel changes in military leadership, urging Moscow to end the war instead of appointing new generals to oversee the invasion that has been going on for nearly 11 months.
Russia appointed Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to oversee the military campaign in Ukraine following its appointment of Sergey Suroivkin in the post back in October. Suroivkin will be serving as Gerasimov’s deputy.
“It likely does reflect some of the systemic challenges that the Russian military has faced since the beginning of this invasion,” Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told a news briefing.