Russia needs Soledar to complicate AFU’s logistics in Bakhmut - military expert Sniehiriov

He shared his opinion with Espreso TV.

"The situation around Soledar is difficult, but controlled. The occupiers' offensive on Soledar should be linked to the overall situation at the front line. In addition to Soledar, the occupiers are actively advancing near the village of Klishchiivka. Thus, they are trying to create an operational encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut," Sniehiriov explained.

The expert stressed that Russia wants to cut the Bakhmut - Soledar - Siversk highway off, which supplies Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk region.

"I would like to emphasize that control over Soledar does not mean control over Artemsil salt production plant. This is the leading belief of Western intelligence and analysts. The occupiers are interested in Soledar only to control the locations. In particular, the roads that are used to supply fuel and oil, ammunition, evacuation of the injured and rotations in Bakhmut. Particularly, the road Bakhmut - Soledar - Siversk. Accordingly, the capture of this road will complicate the supply of the Ukrainian garrison in Bakhmut," he added.

• British intelligence believes that Russian troops are trying to capture Soledar, Donetsk region, in order to surround Bakhmut located near this town.
• On January 10, Russian troops tried to attack Soledar from 3 directions, according to Defense Express CEO Serhiy Zgurets.
• On the same day, the spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Serhiy Cherevatyi said that Russian troops fired 86 times at Soledar from artillery during the day.
• The Institute for the Study of War said that Russian troops did not capture Soledar completely, despite several false statements that the town had fallen and that Bakhmut was under threat of imminent encirclement. And even the potential capture of Soledar will not mean that Bakhmut will be surrounded.
• In the morning report on January 11, the AFU General Staff stated that over the past day, the Ukrainian military repelled Russian attacks near the settlements of Hrianykivka, Kharkiv region, Stelmakhivka, Luhansk region, and Spirne, Rozdolivka, Veselove, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Mayorsk, Vodiane, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Mariinka and Prechystivka, Donetsk region. In the Bakhmut direction, attacks were registered near 9 more settlements of the Donetsk region.