By KYIV. Jan 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Russian occupiers, including the "Wagner" private military company, have carried out a tactical offensive against the city of Soledar in Donetsk region over the past four days and are likely to control most of the settlement, according to a defense intelligence report tweeted by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Tuesday morning.
"Soledar is 10km north of Bakhmut, the capture of which likely continues to be Russia’s main immediate operational objective. Russia’s Soledar axis is highly likely an effort to envelop Bakhmut from the north, and to disrupt Ukrainian lines of communication," the report notes.
It is reported that some of the fighting was for the entrances to the abandoned 200-kilometer salt mine tunnels located under the city and which can be used to penetrate the rear.
"Despite the increased pressure on Bakhmut, Russia is unlikely to envelop the town imminently because Ukrainian forces maintain stable defensive lines in depth and control over supply routes," the British intelligence said.
