Last week, intense fighting took place near Bakhmut and Kreminna. As of 15 January, the Ukrainian Armed Forces "almost certainly" maintained positions in Soledar, despite the continued assault by the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), the UK Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.
“Around Kreminna, fighting has been characterised by a complex series of local attacks and counter-attacks in wooded country. However, overall, the UAF continue to gradually advance their front line east on the edge of Kreminna town,” the message reads.
Over the last six weeks, both Russia and Ukraine have achieved hard-fought but limited gains in different sectors. In these circumstances, a key operational challenge for both sides is to generate formations of uncommitted, capable troops which can exploit the tactical successes to create operational breakthroughs.
In recent weeks, fierce fighting has been taking place in Soledar, a town near Bakhmut known for its salt production. Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that the owner of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, may have an economic interest in the capture of Soledar.
In Russian statements, they have already "captured" the city several times, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces deny it.