Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov on Friday said Russian forces had “liberated” Soledar, insisting the victory carried “important significance” for Russia’s push to capture the wider Donetsk region. Ukraine has not confirmed Moscow’s claims.
Russian military analyst Victor Litovkin told Al Jazeera that “Soledar opens the way for Russian military units to Kramatorsk, the largest city of the Donetsk People’s Republic.”
“Only after the liberation of Bakhmut will an offensive operation be prepared to complete the liberation of Donetsk from Ukraine,” he said.
Moscow-based analyst Pavel Felgenhauer said capturing Soledar would be a “tactical victory”. “Militarily, it doesn’t carry that much strategic weight. But it’s an important psychological victory for Russia,” he said.
Russia gave credit to the Wagner group for their significant effort in battling to liberate Soledar alongside Russian army.
- Bosnian Serbs award Putin with medal of honour
- Moscow orders its top general to take charge of its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine