Ukraine: Latest Military Situation In Soledar Front, 12 January 2023

During the past three days, Russian forces captured the central areas in the northern part of Soledar town, and the conflicts spread to the remaining areas in the northwest of this town. With the advances made, the Ukrainian forces get caught in a quasi-encirclement situation and later, the AFU forces were forced to retreat to avoid encirclement.

Now, Russian forces are clearing the underground network of Ukrainian military installations in the Soledar mines and the last streets in the area. Also, attacks by Russian forces on salt mine No. 7 in the northwesternmost point of Soledar are ongoing.

The Russian media have stated that Ukrainian casualties in Soledar battles are more than 500 personnel, and with the resistance of the Ukrainian army and the prolongation of the conflicts, these statistics will probably increase.

Some Ukrainian sources have also reported that the country’s army is preparing for a counterattack to Soledar, which is far from expected considering the conditions of this axis.

At the same time as these attacks, Russian forces advanced towards Silj railway station in north of Soledar. There are unconfirmed reports that the Russian-led forces also reached to Krasnopolivka village.

In the southwest of Soledar, the conflicts have also extended to Krasna Hora, and heavy clashes continue in the eastern and southern countryside of this village.

Considering the Russian army advances in the two main axes in this region, it seems that the capture of Blahodante and the cutting of the Bakhmut-Siversk route are the main and final goals of the Russian operation in this axis.

See the situation on online map: Here

Read more: Latest Military Situation In Donbas Fronts