Russian soldiers and mercenaries of the "Wagner" PMC are trying to seize

in Donetsk region in order to surround the nearby Bakhmut from the north and disrupt Ukrainian lines of communication.  

This is stated in the daily overview of the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.

According to British intelligence, over the past four days, Russian troops have tactically advanced to the town of Soledar in Donetsk region and are likely to control most of the town.

Soledar is located 10 km north of Bakhmut, the capture of which is likely to remain Russia's main immediate operational objective.

By taking Soledar, the Russians are trying to encircle Bakhmut from the north and disrupt Ukrainian supply routes.

Part of the fighting is focused on the entrances to the salt mine tunnels, the total length of which in this area reaches 200 km.

The Ukrainian military and the occupiers are probably worried that the tunnels can be used to penetrate the rear.

"Despite the increased pressure on Bakhmut, the Russians are unlikely to surround the city in the near future, because Ukrainian troops maintain a stable deep defense and control the supply routes," the report says.

Battle for Soledar

Heavy fighting with the Russian occupiers continues near Soledar in the Donetsk region, but the Russians do not control the city. 

The Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Malyar, informed that in some areas of the Donetsk region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are advancing little by little, but the enemy is also advancing.

And in Soledar, the

at the moment .

On Monday, January 9, it became known that

Colonel Serhii Cherevaty, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that under Soledar, the Russian PMK

- not former "prisoners", but veterans with war experience in Syria, Libya and other hot spots.

Journalist Yuriy Butusov said that the occupiers had reached a position from which they could

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