Wagner PMC units completely surround Soledar.
The founder of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the complete encirclement of Soledar by units of a private military company. The fighting in the city continues at the moment, but the battles are fought against the Ukrainian troops, who are surrounded.
“The divisions of PMC Wagner took control of the entire territory of Soledar. A cauldron has been formed in the center of the city, in which urban battles are being fought. The number of prisoners will be announced tomorrow.”– said Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The exact number of Ukrainian military personnel stationed in the city has not yet been disclosed; however, around noon, information appeared that up to 500 Ukrainian military personnel could be in the western part of Soledar, covering the withdrawal of the main forces from the city.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has not yet made any official statements regarding the takeover of Soledar and its surroundings by units of the Wagner PMC.
Soledar is still partially controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite receiving information that the Ukrainian army units were given only 24 hours to withdraw their forces from Soledar, it became known that Ukrainian troops were still on the city’s territory, controlling its entire western part.
By the current moment, it is known that the Wagner PMC units managed to gain a foothold in the central part of the city, taking control of the city administration building; however, the Armed Forces of Ukraine still control the entire western outskirts of Soledar, including correcting heavy artillery strikes on the city.