Wagner claims control over Soledar, calls Kiev forces to surrender

By Al Mayadeen
11 Jan 2023 09:57
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Chief of Russian private military company Wagner says only units from his armed group took part in taking control over the city.

Yevgeny Prigozhin released this photograph of himself (center) surrounded by Wagner fighters, in what appeared to be one of Soledar’s salt mines. (Telegram)

The city of Soledar, the scene of intense fighting in the past few days, has come under the full control of units of Russia’s Wagner private military company, the company’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was quoted as saying by his press service on Tuesday night.

Russia’s Wagner private military company announced late Tuesday evening taking control of the "entire territory of Soledar," 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 under way. 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.

#أوكرانيا
تطاير عناصر فاغنر الروسية نتيجة المدفعية الأوكرانية في جبهة باخموت.. pic.twitter.com/A8RQwhnihq
— الحرب العالمية الثالثة World War III (@g9im62111) January 10, 2023

The acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, confirmed on Tuesday evening that the Russian private military group made strides in the town of Soledar and took control of its center.

"According to the latest information, the center of Soledar is under the control of the Wagner division, and here the guys have gained ground on one side and the other. They are already effectively moving forward," Pushilin told Channel One.