Ukraine on Monday confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from the salt-mining town of Sultar, with a population of 10,000, which was at the heart of a Russian attack in early January.

(Associated Press)

(Central News Agency) Ukrainian authorities confirmed for the first time today that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn from the eastern Ukrainian salt mining town of Soledar, after Russian troops and the Wagner Group claimed nearly two weeks ago .

"Wehrmacht forces have withdrawn from Suldar to protect the lives of soldiers," Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne quoted Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Military District Command, as saying.

This is the first time Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that Sultar in the Donetsk region has fallen.

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"(Our forces) have fulfilled their main task: to prevent the enemy from making a systematic breakthrough in the direction of Donetsk," Chirevati said.

He also pointed out that the Ukrainian defense line in Sultar successfully prevented the Russian army from breaking through the Ukrainian rear defense line.

According to Chirewati, during the fierce fighting between the two sides, the Ukrainian army was never surrounded in Suledar, and the Russian army did not capture any Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Sultar, which had a population of 10,000 before the war, became the core of the Russian army's attack in early January this year. Russia and Ukraine fought fiercely for control of the local area.