He shared the information with Espreso TV.
"Under the guise of the so-called truce, announced by Gundyaev (Moscow Patriarch Kirill - ed.) and Putin on the eve of January 6, Russia relocated Wagner PMC from near Bakhmut to Soledar. About 10,000 to 15,000 Russian troops were transferred to Soledar - 15 armored battalions - as they could not capture and surround Bakhmut. Ukraine’s Kostiantynivka grouping prevents the enemy from surrounding Bakhmut from the south, and the Soledar grouping from the north. The enemy has increased the density of troops near Soledar, mainly bringing in Wagner mercenaries. Russian linear units entered Bakhmut in place of Wagner mercenaries. Particularly, paratroopers who retreated from the right bank of the Kherson region," explained Svitan.
According to the expert, Wagner mercenaries tried to surround Soledar from the south and northeast of the Donetsk region.
"The invaders almost reached the town center but were repelled by Ukrainian troops. The military leadership of Ukraine destroyed their plan. Reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were redeployed to Soledar, an armored group was brought and artillery was reinforced. Now the situation is under control. In the near future, the positions that the enemy managed to occupy will be de-occupied. The encirclement of Soledar and Bakhmut did not take place," Svitan stressed.