Russia and Ukraine: The Russian army claims that its troops are still besieged by Solidarity amid conflicting reports
The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement in which it said: "MAZ alt Soldar is surrounded from the North and South by units of the Russian airborne troops. The Russian air force is attacking the enemy's strongholds. The attacking forces are fighting inside the city," he said.
The army statement said that Moscow troops captured the village of Podgorodny near Bakhmut.
Eugene Prigogine, from the Wagner group, issued a statement late on Tuesday evening stating that his units had "taken control of the entire territory" of Solidarność. I would like to emphasize once again that no other units, with the exception of the private military company Wagner, participated in the assault on Solidarność," he said.
The Kremlin also said on Wednesday that it was making "progress" in military operations around Solidar and that its forces were enjoying "positive momentum," but a Kremlin spokesman did not confirm the fall of the city.
Earlier, Kiev said that its forces are holding. In a morning statement by the Ukrainian army, Solidarity was mentioned only once, mentioning the city as one of the many victims of the bombing in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.
The representative of the Ukrainian army denied reports that the city of Soledar fell into the hands of Russian troops.
"Solidarity is not under the control of the Russian army," Sergei Chervatyy, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army in the east, told local media.
In addition, he told the Ukrainian section of the BBC that, in Solidarność, "the fighting is still ongoing".
The commander of the Wagner mercenary group said last night that Russian troops had taken control of the city, although, according to him, fighting was still ongoing in the city center.
"Psychological warfare"
The center for strategic communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine accused the Russian private military company Wagner of waging a psychological war.
The center said on the Telegram site that the photo, which allegedly depicted Wagner's leader Eugene Prigogine in salt caves in the city of Soledar, Donetsk region, was taken in another region.
The center published a photo of the salt caves near Vladimiryevka, in the Donetsk region, to prove what it says.
"It seems that the location of Prigogine does not correspond to reality and that it is not in the Solidarity Mines," the center Added.
Wagner said she had seized Solidarnosc and was surrounding Ukrainian forces.
However, the businessman with ties to the Kremlin also said that "urban combat" was taking place in the central part of the city.
Additionally, he said that an announcement on "the number of inmates" will be made on Wednesday.
"Solidarity" is located in the Donetsk region, 15 kilometers from the city of Bakhmut, which Russia has been trying to control for several months.
However, the businessman with ties to the Kremlin also said that "urban combat" was taking place in the central part of the city.
Additionally, he said that an announcement on "the number of inmates" will be made on Wednesday.
"Solidarity" is located in the Donetsk region, 15 kilometers from the city of Bakhmut, which Russia has been trying to control for several months.
He posted his photo in uniform surrounded by Wagner's fighters, without mentioning where she is.
The Russian state news agency Novosti published another photo of Prigogine with armed militants, claiming that it was taken in the salt mines of Solidarność.
Prigogine stated that Wagner's units had broken into Solidarność "exclusively".
The Russian military has not yet commented on this information.
This week, Ukraine said its fighters had withstood intense attacks on the city.
"Even after suffering huge losses, Russia is still madly trying to seize Solidarity," the defense ministry said in Kyiv on Tuesday evening.
President Vladimir Zelensky referred to the "difficult situation" in the Donetsk region in his daily speech on Tuesday evening. He praised the "courage" of the Ukrainian soldiers to defend "Solidarity".
Earlier this week, he said that the fighting had destroyed Solidarity, saying that "everything has been completely destroyed".
Conflicting reports
The Russian state news agency Novosti published another photo of Prigogine with armed militants, claiming that it was taken in the salt mines of Solidarność.
Prigogine stated that Wagner's units had broken into Solidarność "exclusively".
The Russian military has not yet commented on this information.
This week, Ukraine said its fighters had withstood intense attacks on the city.
"Even after suffering huge losses, Russia is still madly trying to seize Solidarity," the defense ministry said in Kyiv on Tuesday evening.
President Vladimir Zelensky referred to the "difficult situation" in the Donetsk region in his daily speech on Tuesday evening. He praised the "courage" of the Ukrainian soldiers to defend "Solidarity".
Earlier this week, he said that the fighting had destroyed Solidarity, saying that "everything has been completely destroyed".
