Recently, the city of Soledar has become one of Ukraine’s biggest battlefields.
Russian forces have reportedly taken control of large parts of the practically wiped out society in the eastern Donbas region, but it has cost them dearly.
IN ACTION: Ukrainian forces fire a grenade launcher at Russian forces on the front line in Soledar. Photo: Serhii Nuzhnenko\Radio Free Europe via Scanpix
– A further offensive can be weakened
Researcher at the Norwegian Foreign Policy Institute (Nupi), Ole Martin Stormoen, tells TV 2 that Russian forces have in all likelihood suffered heavy losses in the city.
EXPERT: Ole Martin Stormoen is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy. Photo: TV 2
– From a strategic perspective, it is difficult to see that Soledar is of such importance that these losses make sense. The cost of taking the city could mean that any further offensive is weakened, he says.
Furthermore, he believes that the battles have been costly for both parties.
– The latest reports indicate that the Ukrainian forces have withdrawn, so that the front is now west of the city. There have been very hard and costly battles with heavy artillery fire from both sides, which has left most of the city in ruins, says Stormoen.
– Stepping on the corpses of their own
Unverifiable estimates from the Ukrainian side estimate that Russian losses in recent weeks are in the tens of thousands of wounded and killed – thus the consequences of occupying Soledar have been catastrophic for Russia.
EQUIPMENT: Ukrainian soldiers use BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles near the front line. Photo: Serhii Nuzhnenko\Radio Free Europe via Scanpix
Both sides have made frequent claims of inflicting heavy damage on the other, but Ukraine’s deputy defense minister describes the situation as very devastating for the Russians.
– The enemy is literally stepping on the corpses of their own soldiers, using massive artillery, and even peppering their own soldiers to death with fire, she writes on Telegram January 9.
The Wagner group
Russia’s main target since the summer has been the town of Bakhmut, about ten kilometers from Soledar.
Here, TV 2’s team visits war-torn Bakhmut
The war is still raging there.
But in late December, Russian mercenary forces from the Wagner group turned their focus north, attacking Soledar.
Stormoen at Nupi elaborates to TV 2 that control of Soledar does not appear to be of critical importance for the supply lines of the Ukrainian forces holding their ground in Bakhmut, which has much greater military importance for both parties.
![CORRECTION / This handout satellite image taken and released on August 1, 2022 by Maxar Technologies shows the start of the siege by Russian forces in Soledar, eastern Ukraine. - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on January 11 fighting was still raging in a key eastern frontline city that a Russian mercenary group earlier said it controlled. The fate of Soledar in eastern Ukraine was uncertain after Russian group Wagner claimed it controlled the gateway town -- but the Kremlin cautioned against declaring victory prematurely. (Photo by Handout / Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Handout has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [August 1, 2022] instead of [January 11, 2023]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.” Photo: HANDOUT](https://california18.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/15421791.jpg "Photo: HANDOUT")
OVERVIEW: Satellite images from Maxar show Soledar at five-month intervals. The picture on the right was taken on 10 January. Photo: Maxar Technologies
The Wagner forces, controlled and paid for by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, have been determined to give President Vladimir Putin a victory at any cost.
It has also been a goal for Prigozhin to strengthen its influence in the Kremlin, and to humiliate rival commanders in Russia’s Defense Ministry.
FUNERAL: Commander of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, attends the funeral of a Russian Wagner soldier. Photo: AP / NTB
After Russia claimed to have captured Soledar, an argument broke out between the Ministry of Defense and the Wagner Group over who should get the credit.
At first, the Ministry of Defense did not mention that the Wagner Group was involved in the fighting.
They have subsequently said that the mercenaries have played a “courageous and selfless” role.
Prepared for a major offensive
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that Russian troops will soon launch a large-scale offensive operation in eastern Ukraine.
They are also worried that Belarus will join the war.
PRESIDENT: Belarus’s president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, during a joint military exercise with Russia last year. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/AP Photos
– Russia has strengthened its combat aircraft group in Belarus, under the guise that they have joint exercises. The threat of Russian missile attacks and air strikes from Belarusian airspace is increasing, they write in one report that was published on Monday.
But in the same report, they emphasize that there have been no reports of sightings of Russian soldiers near the Ukrainian border in Belarus.
