Head of Wagner Group says city of Soledar fully under control

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Jan 2023 23:30
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About 500 Ukrainian troops who refused to surrender were eliminated, the head of Wagner Group said.

Yevgeny Prigozhin with Wagner fighters from liberated Soledar mine (Telegram)

The head of the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Wednesday that the city of Soledar has been completely liberated.

"Once again, I want to confirm the complete liberation and cleansing of the territory of Soledar from units of the Ukrainian army," Prigozhin said on Telegram.

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦The first video of PMCs "Wagner" from Salt Mine in Soledar.

PMCS fighter: — Ukrainians are already standing about two kilometers above our head, well, nothing - it's all temporary.

Prigozhin: — Are they standing at the bottom or not? Let's go, maybe we'll get to them. pic.twitter.com/r15bA1nAla
— AZ 🛰🌏🌍🌎 (@AZgeopolitics) January 11, 2023

Prigozhin added that civilians have been evacuated from the city and that 500 Ukrainian troops were killed after they refused to capitulate.

Yesterday, Prigozhin said that the city of Soledar has come under the full control of units of Russia’s Wagner private military company following days of heavy fighting with Ukrainian forces previously located in the city.

"Units of the Wagner private military company have taken the entire territory of Soledar under their control. The city center has been surrounded, and urban warfare is underway. The number of captives will be announced tomorrow," Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner group, said on the military group's telegram account.

Prigozhin added that the remaining Ukrainian soldiers will have two options, "either surrender or extermination."

"No units other than Wagner fighters participated in the liberation of the city of Solidar," he stressed.

Following the announcement, the acting head of Russia’s People’s Republic of Donetsk Denis Pushilin told Rossiya-1 on Tuesday, "After Soledar, Artemovsk (Bakhmut) will be liberated, as well as Seversk, where there are also very serious fortifications. Further efforts will be directed to the Kramatorsk and Slavyansk directions."

While the fighting was taking place, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was reportedly issuing a call for further support from the West via the Golden Globes 2023.

His generals reportedly urged him to order the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops - which he declined.

I addressed the participants of the 80th @goldenglobes Awards. This award was born at a special time. WWII was not over yet, but the tide was turned – all knew who would win.
It is now 2023. The war in 🇺🇦 is not over yet but the tide is turning & it is already clear who will win. pic.twitter.com/u7pHr0u0lq
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 11, 2023