Published: Less than 40 min ago
Ukraine is strengthening its forces in eastern Donbass, where attacks are repelled against, among other things, the city of Bachmut, Ukrainian authorities say.
Russia claims that a community in the area has been “liberated”.
“The enemy has once again made a desperate attempt to storm the city of Soledar from different directions and has thrown the most professional units of the Wagner group into the battle,” writes the Ukrainian military in a statement, The Guardian reports.
On Monday morning, the occupation representatives appointed by Russia claim that the community of Bachmutske has been “liberated” by Russia, reports the AFP news agency. The information has not been confirmed by independent sources.
The community is located just outside Soledar near the town of Bachmut, which before the war had around 70,000 inhabitants.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address on Sunday evening that the area around Bachmut and Soledar is “one of the bloodiest places on the front line”.
Then he stated that the cities continue to fight back.
– Bachmut perseveres against all odds. And despite the fact that most of the city is destroyed by Russian attacks, our soldiers repel constant attempts at Russian offensive there. Soledar is holding out, even though there is even more destruction there and it is extremely difficult, Zelenskyy said at the time.