The town of Soledar, in the Donetsk region, some 15 kilometers from Bakhmout is the scene of bloody fighting. Russia has been trying to conquer this city for months, but the clashes have been particularly intense for the past four days. Wagner’s troops play a leading role in this battle for Bakhmout, a city of questionable strategic importance but which has taken on strong symbolic value, as both sides have fought for its control for months.
The British Ministry of Defense clarified on Tuesday January 10 that part of the fighting is aimed at controlling the entrance to an old salt mine in Soledar, because its tunnels pass under the front line and could be used to “s ‘infiltrate behind enemy lines’.
- The Russian group Wagner claims to control the town of Soledar
The leader of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigojine, said this Wednesday morning, January 11, that his fighters took control of the Ukrainian city of Soledar, adding that “urban battles” are continuing.
“Wagner’s units have taken control of the entire territory of Soledar,” said Yevgeny Prigozhin through his press service on social networks, adding that fighting is taking place in the center of the city, making the extent uncertain. of the Russian group’s control over the city. Yevgeny Prigojine said the “number of prisoners” will be made public on Wednesday. AFP was unable to verify his statements.
“Let’s be honest […] The Ukrainian army bravely fights for Bakhmout and Soledar. Very tough and bloody fighting is underway in the western suburbs of Soledar,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Tuesday, quoted on Telegram by his press service. “The Ukrainian armed forces honorably defend the territory of Soledar. Claims of mass desertions from its ranks do not correspond to reality,” he added.
- Kharkiv bombarded a few hours after the visit of a German minister
Russian shelling hit Kharkiv on Tuesday evening, hours after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a surprise visit to the northeastern Ukrainian city with her Ukrainian counterpart, who urged Germany to provide heavy armor. “The longer such a decision is delayed, the more casualties there will be, the more civilians will die,” said Ukrainian Minister Dmytro Kouleba.
“Stay in the shelters. The occupiers are bombing again!” Regional Governor Oleg Synegoubov warned on Telegram messaging. It was impossible to immediately determine whether these strikes had caused damage and casualties.
Earlier Tuesday, Annalena Baerbock had come to this city near the Russian border and very tested by the war. Invited by her counterpart Dmytro Kouleba, she assured that Ukraine could count on the “solidarity” and “support” of Germany. The minister said she had provided “a new package” of aid including 20 million euros for mine clearance and as much to develop the Starlink Internet access network. She also announced new deliveries of generators for the Ukrainian energy infrastructure systematically bombed by Russia.
But Ukraine is mainly demanding the delivery of Western combat tanks, and Berlin has still not responded favorably to its request to deliver “Leopard 2” armored vehicles, heavy equipment with recognized technology. “There will be deaths among civilians” as long as Germany does not deliver its tanks, warned Tuesday the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba, at the end of the surprise visit of his German counterpart.
- Zelensky announces that he revoked the citizenship of a Putin relative
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday evening that he had revoked the Ukrainian citizenship of wealthy businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, a close friend of Vladimir Putin, accused by kyiv of high treason in favor of Russia. “Based on documents prepared by the security services and the State Migration Service, and in accordance with the Constitution of our state, I have decided to revoke the citizenship of four people”, including Viktor Medvedchuk and three other politicians, he declared.
Viktor Medvedchuk, 68, was handed over to Russia in a prisoner swap between kyiv and Moscow in late September 2022 after being imprisoned for more than five months in Ukraine. This former deputy, born in Siberia (Russia), was considered Vladimir Putin’s man in Ukraine, where he defended his interests for more than 20 years after meeting in the early 2000s.
In the wake of the Russian invasion on February 24, this wealthy businessman had fled his house arrest, disappearing into the wild before being arrested in his flight by Ukrainian special forces on April 12.
- Ukrainian forces trained in the United States in the Patriot anti-aircraft system
The United States will train Ukrainian forces at a military base in the southern state of Oklahoma in the operation and maintenance of the Patriot air defense system that Washington will supply to kyiv, announced the Pentagon on Tuesday.
“Training of Ukrainian forces in the use of the Patriot air defense system will begin next week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma,” Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder told reporters. “This training will prepare between 90 and 100 Ukrainian soldiers to operate, maintain and maintain the defense system through training that is expected to last several months,” he added. The US executive unveiled a new package of aid to Ukraine at the end of last year, including a Patriot surface-to-air missile system, long requested by kyiv, to counter attacks from Russia.
- Canada to give US anti-aircraft system to Ukraine
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday the purchase of an anti-aircraft defense system from the United States with a view to donating it to Ukraine. This is the first NASAMS anti-aircraft system that Canada offers to Ukraine, said Ottawa, which assesses the value of this gift at 406 million Canadian dollars (282 million euros).
The announcement was made after a bilateral meeting between Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden in Mexico City. This defense system is intended to counter the massive Russian bombardments targeting Ukrainian critical infrastructure.
“That’s the number one priority. That’s why Canada is buying an advanced surface-to-air missile system from the United States to donate to Ukraine,” said Anita Anand, Canada’s Defense Minister, after talking with his Ukrainian counterpart. Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the gesture in stride, on Twitter.