The situation near Soledar is not easy, but the Russians have not yet fully captured or surrounded it. Also noteworthy is the appointment of the Colonel General. Alexander Lapin to the insignificant post of commander of the Russian ground forces.
It’s hardest near Soledar, where Wagner Group, supported by Russian airborne troops, is fighting for every house. Presumably there was also fighting in the basement of the salt mine, of which not much remains except for the sidewalks. As geotagged photos indicate, the western district of the city is still in Ukrainian hands. After heavy clashes, the Russians captured the village of Pidhorodne, but it is closer to Bakhmut than to Soledar. Fierce battles are still going on for the village of Krasna Hora, but the defense has not been broken. The aggressors failed to outflank Soledar from the west.
The situation is therefore very difficult, but not hopeless. Ukrainian defenders use urbanized terrain and fortifications in order to inflict as much damage as possible on enemies. Even if Soledar is eventually captured, it won’t do much for the Russians. From there they can attack at most Siewiersk, which they have not been able to capture since mid-July, attacking from the east. Now they could attack from the south, but they still have nice rough terrain to cross, with hills and villages to support the defenders.
Therefore, Soledar itself is not so important. A salt mine no longer in its current state, launching it would be extremely difficult, and removing it from the outlet – even more so. Anyway, who would work here? Where would these workers live and shop? The eventual capture of the city would have a purely propaganda dimension.
