• Russia says it has taken control of the town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine.
• It is their first substantial success in the region in months, Russia’s military says.
• Russian defense ministry attributes the capture to “constant destruction of enemy”.

Russian forces have conquered the town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, marking their first substantial success in months, according to Russia’s military ministry.

According to a briefing on Friday from the government, Russia assumed control of Soledar on Thursday night.

There have been conflicting statements recently on who is in charge of the town, and there has been violent fighting.

Russia said the capture of Soledar was “important for the continuation of successful offensive operations in the Donetsk region.” It added that “establishing control over Soledar makes it possible to cut off the supply routes for Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut.”

Soledar has very little military relevance. The Wagner mercenary group in particular would be able to switch their attention to the adjacent Bakhmut, which has been a target since the summer, if it were to be captured.

According to the Russian ministry, the capture of Soledar “became possible due to the constant destruction of the enemy by assault and army aviation, missile troops and artillery of a group of Russian forces.”

The assertions made by the private military firm Wagner that its personnel had captured the city on their own went unmentioned by the ministry.

“Over the past three days alone, more than seven hundred Ukrainian servicemen and over three hundred units of weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been destroyed near the city of Soledar,” it said.

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