President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky promised to provide on Thursday, January 12 “everything is necessary” soldiers resisting Russian attacks in Soledar and Bakhmut, two cities in the east of the country that Russia is trying to capture at any cost to turn the tide of the war. “I want to emphasize that the units defending those cities will be quickly and uninterruptedly provided with ammunition and everything necessary.”the president of Ukraine announced on Facebook after the meeting with his staff.
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The situation in Soledar is several days “difficult” for the Ukrainian army and “The fiercest and fiercest fighting continues today.”Deputy Minister of Defense Ganna Maliar announced earlier. According to him, “Despite the difficult situation, Ukrainian soldiers are fighting tirelesslyso that the Russian forces, especially the mercenaries of the Wagner paramilitary group, would not be able to attack the large neighboring city of Bakhmut from its northern side.
A strategic victory
Soledar, once famous for its salt mines, is actually 15 km northeast of Bakhmut, which Russian forces have been trying to capture since the summer, unsuccessfully at this stage. For military analyst Anatoly Khramchikhine, the capture of this small pre-war town of around 10,000 inhabitants, now completely destroyed, would nevertheless allow Moscow to finally claim a military victory after several humiliating setbacks. “Any win is important, especially since there hasn’t been a win in a while– he emphasizes.
On Wednesday, Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigogine was quick to claim his men were in control of Soledar, before being swiftly countered by Russia’s defense ministry and Kiev, who said fighting was still ongoing. On Thursday, however, the Kremlin welcomed “great job“and”heroic deedsfrom Wagner’s men on the front lines. “There is still a lot of work to be done. No time to stop and wring hands“Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of the Russian President, also mentioned in the conversation with the press.
Andrey Baevsky, the pro-Russian separatist deputy of Donetsk region, emphasized that the capture of Soledar will provide an opportunity. “cut supply lines” Ukrainian forces that provide an opportunity to protect Bakhmut. “Soledar (…) opens (also) artillery fire possibilities in the direction of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Kostantinivka”. further west, he again watched on Russian television. A map of eastern Ukraine released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday did not show Soledar under Moscow’s military control.
” SEE ALSO – War in Ukraine. “The fiercest and fiercest battles continue,” in Soledar
Resistance of Ukraine
“We endure”boasted Deputy Minister Ganna Maliar with the hammer “endurance and heroism”. Ukrainian forces. Without providing numbers, he said Thursday that Russian troops are fighting in Soledar “suffer heavy losses (…) trying unsuccessfully to break through our defenses.” Kiev, for its part, did not specify the number of its killed and wounded in that area, but Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the President of Ukraine, said on Wednesday.significant lossesIn an interview with AFP. Ukrainian army spokesman Sergey Cherevaty claimed on television that the Russians “Constantly attack” Soledar, reporting 91 artillery shots in the direction of the city in the last 24 hours.
In Bakhmut, under the bombs, the supplies of heart medicines are running out very quickly. “Paracetamol is enough, but it will not cure sick patients,” said doctor Elena Molchanova to AFP. But it is impossible for him to imagine leaving the city.”as long as there are people here“. On that day, among the customers was resident Tetiana, who came to collect pills for her 81-year-old neighbor, a deaf, blind and bedridden man. “He has no idea it’s a war and we’re being bombed– he laments.
New Russian commander
Yesterday, Moscow made a serious change in its military hierarchy. General Valery Gerasimov, who is the chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces, has been appointed commander of the forces stationed in Ukraine, replacing General Sergey Surovikin, who will lead the operation for barely three months, marked by the retirement of Kherson. (south), and who becomes his deputy. This restructuring was justified by the defense of Russia “Expanding the range of missions to be carried out.” “Vladimir Putin did not talk about new goals.” however, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. But the experts see in this decision a sign of acceleration of the Russian operation, facing the inability to win.
The attack has been talked about for several months, and the hypothesis of a new mobilization is not excluded, after the first wave of about 300,000 men in September. For Mark Galeotti of the British Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, this decision is “Confirmation, if necessary, serious attacks are expected.” Russia also released “At the border point between Poland and Russia”. after negotiations “discreet” Former US diplomat Bill Richardson, who specializes in sensitive missions, announced on Thursday the former US Navy sailor, whom he had detained since last April and convicted of espionage. The observation is not mentioned.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.