Fighting in Soledar and Bakhmut comparable to Battle of Verdun, Zelenskyy’s chief-of-staff says
Read also: Capturing Soledar and Bakhmut won’t help Russia turn the tide, White House says
“This is the Verdun of the 21st century; the fighting is ongoing for several months now, but our soldiers are holding the line,” said Yermak.
“The Russians are releasing convicts, who are killed as soon as they get to the front line. Their bodies are left to rot, nobody attempts to recover them. The Russian side suffers much heavier personnel losses that we do. We place a greater value on the lives of our troops. Nevertheless, we are facing a human tide that keeps attacking, attacking, attacking.”
The official added that Soledar remains contested, and neither side can claim control of the town.
“The situation is difficult, but we have the sole goal of liberating our territories, restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” he concluded.
Read also: Ukrainian serviceman tells about hellish street battles in Soledar
Russian military command appears to have become obsessed with seizing Soledar, in the first weeks of 2023.
Read also: Russia may have lost 20,000 troops near Bakhmut and Soledar, Zelenskyy’s adviser says
Earlier, Ukraine’s Operational Command East spokesman Serhiy Cherevyi reported that Russia had deployed the bulk of its forces, including Wagner's mercenaries, near Soledar in Donetsk Oblast.
By Jan. 13, Russian media were already claiming victory in the battle for Soledar, while Ukraine’s General Staff maintains that fighting for the town continues. Conquering Soledar would enable Moscow’s forces to put increased pressure on nearby Bakhmut.
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
