As Russia announced it had taken control of Soledar, the Ukrainian president again hailed the courage of his soldiers who he said are still fighting to defend the city.
Like every evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Ukrainian people during a speech. This Friday, the statesman again affirmed that the fighting continued in the east of the country, particularly in the towns of Bakhmout and Soledar.
“The hard battle for the Donetsk region continues, the battle for Bakhmout and Soledar, for Kreminna, for other towns and villages in the east of our country continues,” he said.
The communication battle therefore continues between kyiv and Moscow. Hours earlier, Russia claimed to have taken control of Soledar after a fierce battle and hailed the Russian mercenary group Wagner for carrying out “the direct assault on the residential areas of Soledar”. A claim that had already been denied by Ukraine.
Kraken and Shaman units thanked
For Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian army therefore continues to defend itself in these key points of the conflict which began almost eleven months ago.
“Although the enemy has concentrated its greatest forces in this direction, our troops – the Armed Forces of Ukraine, all defense and security forces – are defending the state,” he said.
This resistance can be attributed, according to him, to two elite units: Kraken in Soledar and Shaman in Bakhmout.
“I thank the fighters of the Kraken unit for their decisive actions to destroy the enemy near Soledar! Thanks to the soldiers of the International Defense Intelligence Legion of the Ministry of Defense and the Shaman unit, who bravely defend Bakhmout !” said Volodymyr Zelensky.
