Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Friday its forces had taken control of the salt mining town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, state media reported.
Russian forces captured the town, long the focus of heavy fighting and shelling, late on Thursday, the ministry said.
The town of Soledar is considered a strategic point because taking it would allow Russian troops to cut off Ukrainian forces from the neighboring and much larger town of Bakhmut.
Reuters was not immediately able to verify the defense ministry’s claim.
Ukraine said on Friday its forces were still holding out in Soledar after a “hot” night of fighting in what became one of the bloodiest battlefields of the entire war.
Both sides suffered heavy losses in the battle for the small town.
Moscow is chasing what would be its first major battlefield gain after half a year of humiliating withdrawals. Kiev says Russia is throwing wave after wave of soldiers in a futile fight across a bombed-out desert.
Source: CNN Brasil
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