Nearly two weeks after Russian troops claimed to have taken control of the little salt-mining town, KYIV: Ukraine admits on Wednesday that its troops had withdrawn from Soledar in eastern Ukraine.
Serhiy Cherevatyi, a military spokesman, was quoted by official television Suspilne as stating, “The Defence Forces retreated from Soledar in order to spare the lives of service people.”
His comments served as the first Ukrainian confirmation. Soledar, which is located in the Donetsk region, has been taken over by Russian soldiers. He confirmed the news about the location.
Cherevatyi was cited as saying, “(Our forces) completed their basic task.” The task was not to let the enemy systematically breakthrough in the Donetsk direction. He said that it was the main objective of the forces.
He claimed that Ukraine’s defense line at Soledar had stopped Russian forces from invading its rear lines 11 months ago.
Cherevatyi said that despite intense fighting, Ukrainian soldiers were never besieged in Soledar. He also said that no Ukrainian prisoners of war had been taken. He added that the fighting was intense.
For several weeks at the beginning of January, Soledar served as the focal point of Russia’s invasion. The pre-war population of Soledar was 10,000. Severe fights for control waged there.