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Ukrainian Troops Hold Eastern Town Of Soledar Despite Russian Onslaught, Deputy Minister Says

Updated
The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, visits the positions of soldiers on the front line in the city of Soledar on January 9.
The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, visits the positions of soldiers on the front line in the city of Soledar on January 9.

Ukrainian forces are still holding out in the eastern mining town of Soledar despite a massive Russian onslaught, Ukraine's deputy defense minister said late on January 10 after the British Defense Ministry said that Russian forces had likely captured most of the town.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said in a statement that heavy fighting to hold on to Soledar continued, but Ukrainian fighters were "bravely" defending the town.

"The enemy disregards the heavy losses of its personnel and continues to storm actively," Malyar said. "The approaches to our positions are simply strewn with the bodies of dead enemy fighters," she said.

The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, late on January 10 claimed his forces had taken control of the town, TASS said.

But in a statement quoted by Reuters, he said fighting was still going on in a "cauldron" in the center of the city.

"The number of prisoners will be announced tomorrow," he added, giving no further details.

RFE/RL cannot corroborate specific battlefield claims.

Capturing Soledar and its salt mines would have symbolic, military, and commercial value for Russia and would be Moscow's most substantial gain in months.

U.K. intelligence said in its daily assessment on January 10 that it believes Russia's "Soledar axis is likely an effort to envelop" the nearby city of Bakhmut from the north "and to disrupt Ukrainian lines of communication."

The British assessed that "in the last four days, Russian and [Wagner] forces have made tactical advances" into the historic salt-mining town "and are likely in control of most of the settlement."

Salt Of The Earth: Deep Inside Eastern Ukraine's Massive Soledar Mines

This is pure salt. The crystal-clear chunk was extracted from the Artyomsol salt mine in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
1/16 This is pure salt. The crystal-clear chunk was extracted from the Artyomsol salt mine in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
An underground chamber at the mine, created after thousands of tons of rock salt was extracted. Geologists working for the mine say less than 5 percent of the salt seam has been removed since operations began in 1881.
2/16 An underground chamber at the mine, created after thousands of tons of rock salt was extracted. Geologists working for the mine say less than 5 percent of the salt seam has been removed since operations began in 1881.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
An emergency escape ladder runs up one wall of a chamber in the mine, hundreds of meters beneath the surface.
3/16 An emergency escape ladder runs up one wall of a chamber in the mine, hundreds of meters beneath the surface.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
A transport tunnel inside the mine. The vast salt seam under the town of Soledar, meaning &quot;gift of salt,&quot; was formed after an ancient sea in the region dried up.<br /> &nbsp;
4/16 A transport tunnel inside the mine. The vast salt seam under the town of Soledar, meaning "gift of salt," was formed after an ancient sea in the region dried up.
 
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
The mine employs more than 2,800 people and supplies some 95 percent of Ukrainians&#39; salt.
5/16 The mine employs more than 2,800 people and supplies some 95 percent of Ukrainians' salt.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
A mine worker at the controls of a &quot;combine.&quot;
6/16 A mine worker at the controls of a "combine."
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
The business end of the combine, poised to grind the salt into an easily transportable powder.&nbsp;
7/16 The business end of the combine, poised to grind the salt into an easily transportable powder. 
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
A worker pours freshly ground salt into a heap. From here it will be transported to the surface.
8/16 A worker pours freshly ground salt into a heap. From here it will be transported to the surface.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
In 2015, amid conflict between Russia-backed separatists and the Ukrainian military, the mine lost around one-third of its market when Russian authorities abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://rospotrebnadzor.ru/about/info/news/news_details.php?ELEMENT_ID=2967" target="_blank">suspended</a>&nbsp;imports of Artyomsol&#39;s salt.<br /> &nbsp;
9/16 In 2015, amid conflict between Russia-backed separatists and the Ukrainian military, the mine lost around one-third of its market when Russian authorities abruptly suspended imports of Artyomsol's salt.
 
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
​Ground salt being zipped toward an elevator that will transport it to the surface.
10/16 ​Ground salt being zipped toward an elevator that will transport it to the surface.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
As well as selling salt for both food and heavy industry, the Artyomsol&nbsp;mine also does a swift trade in an unusual salt product.
11/16 As well as selling salt for both food and heavy industry, the Artyomsol mine also does a swift trade in an unusual salt product.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
These salt blocks, which sell for around 8 euros each, are used for &quot;speleo rooms&quot; -- chambers built from salt that seek to recreate the allegedly restorative conditions of salt mines.
12/16 These salt blocks, which sell for around 8 euros each, are used for "speleo rooms" -- chambers built from salt that seek to recreate the allegedly restorative conditions of salt mines.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
A worker slices up blocks of salt. There is disagreement over whether inhaling salt dust is indeed the miracle cure for respiratory illnesses it is claimed to be. But after a <a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feliks_Boczkowski" target="_blank">Polish doctor</a> noticed that workers in salt mines often avoided the lung diseases common to coal miners, the &quot;halotherapy&quot; industry was born.
13/16 A worker slices up blocks of salt. There is disagreement over whether inhaling salt dust is indeed the miracle cure for respiratory illnesses it is claimed to be. But after a Polish doctor noticed that workers in salt mines often avoided the lung diseases common to coal miners, the "halotherapy" industry was born.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
But the majority of sales remain salt for zesting up food. And company officials say Artyomsol&nbsp;is seeking to crack Western markets.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;
14/16 But the majority of sales remain salt for zesting up food. And company officials say Artyomsol is seeking to crack Western markets.

 
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
Freshly packed boxes of table salt flow off the production line. A spokesman told RFE/RL that Artyomsol&nbsp;is currently designing packaging to catch the eyes of Western shoppers.
15/16 Freshly packed boxes of table salt flow off the production line. A spokesman told RFE/RL that Artyomsol is currently designing packaging to catch the eyes of Western shoppers.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
A vintage sign at the entrance to one of Artyomsol&#39;s mines.
16/16 A vintage sign at the entrance to one of Artyomsol's mines.
Russian forces in Ukraine are trying to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in a sustained offensive that Kyiv's Defense Ministry has described as "maniacal." In 2019, RFE/RL's Amos Chapple visited Soledar as the salt-mining operation was hoping to crack Western markets.
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They suggested that each side was "likely concerned" about the possible use by the enemy of 200 kilometers of disused tunnels from the Soledar mine running underneath the area.

The Ukrainian military previously said Russian forces redeployed to Soledar after failing to take the larger nearby town of Bakhmut.

Bakhmut and Soledar lie in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, which Putin claims to have annexed. Full control of it and the neighboring Luhansk region, the so-called Donbas, is Russian President Vladimir Putin's main priority at this stage in the war, analysts have said.

The Ukrainian military said Russian troops started regrouping after Moscow unilaterally called a cease-fire in observance of Orthodox Christmas over the weekend.

Amid the fierce fighting in the eastern Donetsk region, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a surprise visit to the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, promising to send more weapons less than a week after Berlin pledged to send infantry fighting vehicles that Ukraine had been requesting.

Baerbock pledged further support before leaving Kharkiv, which was hit by Russian shelling after she left.

"The occupiers are striking again," Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram, telling residents to stay in shelters.

Baerbock stressed that Ukrainians "should know they can rely on our solidarity and support," adding that Germany will keep supplying weapons "that Ukraine needs in order to free its citizens who are still suffering under the terror of Russian occupation."

Baerbock brought with her a package that includes power generators, 20 million euros ($21 million) for demining, and 20 million euros as financial help for the Starlink project ensuring Internet access for the population. She promised more weapons during her visit to Kharkiv but did not go into specifics.

Heavy Fighting In Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine (updated weekly)

Baerbock's unannounced trip came just days after Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to provide to Ukraine Marder infantry fighting vehicles, which Ukraine has long sought along with more advanced Leopard 2 battle tanks.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Germany's refusal to send the tanks was costing lives and pressed again for Germany to send them.

The "longer it takes to make the decision, the more people will die." he said.

"I have no doubt that Ukraine will receive German Leopard tanks. I think the German government understands somewhere deep in its soul that this decision will be made and the tanks will be transferred to Ukraine," he said.

As word of Baerbock's unannounced visit emerged, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a telephone call with European Council President Charles Michel to make another urgent appeal to European powers to send weapons.

Zelenskiy said he informed Michel about the situation on the battlefield and the "urgent needs of Ukraine in armaments."

They also discussed expectations from a Ukraine-EU summit scheduled for February 3 in Kyiv with the participation of the heads of the 27 EU countries, he said.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa
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