[Dargo]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Defenders in a difficult situation. Der Tagesspiegel reports:
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Fighting in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine has left defenders in the Soledar area in a difficult situation, according to Kiev. "At the moment it is difficult in Soledar," Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar wrote on her Telegram channel on Sunday. Soledar, like Bachmut, which has been contested for months, is part of Ukraine's defensive wall in front of the agglomeration between Slowyansk and Kramatorsk.

Taking the agglomeration would be almost tantamount to conquering the Donbass - one of Russia's publicly stated goals at the start of its war of aggression. In front of Soledar, the Russians would have concentrated large forces. The attacks involve not only regular units of the Russian army, but also mercenary troops, Maljar wrote.

In fact, in the area around Bachmut and Soledar - both towns are only 14 kilometers apart - the mercenaries of the "Wagner" force, considered well-equipped, are attacking. Russian military blogs had recently reported a breakthrough of the defense lines in Soledar, this has not yet been officially confirmed by Moscow. According to information from Kiev, Ukrainian troops continue to hold the city under control.

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If Russian forces and Wagner troops seize Soledar, Prigozhin and the Russian military will lose strategically due to committing their best forces to an attrition battle. Russian forces continued counterattacks to regain lost positions along the Svatove-Kreminna line on January 8. Luhansk Oblast Head Serhiy Haidai stated that Russian forces transferred several battalions from the Bakhmut area to the Kreminna area.