British intelligence comments on Russian paratroopers’ role in Kreminna battles 

The UK Ministry of Defense reported the information on Twitter.

"Over the last two days, heavy fighting has continued both around the town of Soledar, Donetsk region, and on the approaches to Kremina, Luhansk region," the British intelligence report says.

Since the beginning of January 2023, Russia has allocated the 76th Guards Air Landing Division of the VDV (airborne forces) to reinforce the front line near Kreminna after assessing this sector as very vulnerable.

British intelligence adds that by November 2022, Russia will have deployed almost all of its airborne troops as long-term ground troops along the front line in the Kherson region.

"Now redeployed to the Donbas and southern Ukraine, commanders are likely attempting to employ VDV more in line with their supposed doctrinal role as a relatively elite rapid reaction force," the British Ministry of Defence said.

• On January 7, British intelligence said that the liberation of Kreminna, Luhansk region, could ruin Russian plans to fully occupy the Donetsk region. 
• On January 11, Colonel Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian Eastern Defense Forces, denied Russian claims that Soledar is under Russian control.
• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the battles of Ukrainian defenders for Bakhmut and Soledar, Donetsk region, show how important it is to strengthen military assistance to Ukraine.
• In the afternoon of the same day, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar reported that in the town of Soledar Russian troops are trying to break through the defense, heavy fighting continues.
• As of Wednesday evening, January 11, the US had no confirmation of the reports spread by Russia about the alleged capture of the Ukrainian town of Soledar.