Prigozhin uses reports about Soledar to strengthen PMC Wagner’s reputation - ISW

This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Soldiers of the Wagner PMC announced the seizure of territory within Soledar over the past few days. Also, many Russian sources discussed these "successes" as evidence that the Wagner forces may soon surround Bakhmut.

Analysts say, according to the footage distributed on January 9, the Wagner forces are engaged in a fierce battle with small arms near the city administration building in the center of Soledar.

"Prigozhin emphasized on January 9 that “exclusively” Wagner Group units are taking ground in Soledar, and noted that Wagner fighters are currently engaged in “fierce battles for the city administration building," the Institute reminded.

Therefore, the ISW believes that Prigozhin continues to use the "successes" of the Wagner PMC in Soledar to promote his company as an effective fighting force in Ukraine.

• On January 9, a military expert and reserve colonel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Roman Svitan noted that Russia increased the density of troops in the Soledar area.

• The same day in the evening, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar reported that after an unsuccessful attempt to capture Soledar, Donetsk region, Russia resumed a powerful assault on the city.

• Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian army had concentrated their forces in Soledar and noted that the battle for Donbas continues, and its result will be the liberation of the region.