According to Ukraine, more than 100 Russian soldiers died in the last day in the battles for the city in the east of the country, writes Al Jazeera.

Russia says its forces are closing in on capturing Soledar, a salt town in eastern Ukraine, in a moral victory for the Kremlin, but at the cost of heavy Russian casualties and widespread destruction of the territory by its claimants.

Over 100 Russian soldiers were killed in the battles for Soledar over the past day, reported the Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

“The Russians were literally walking over the bodies of their own soldiers, burning everything in their path,” Kyrylenko said, noting that over the past day, Russian troops had shelled dozens of towns and villages in the region.

Russian troops are using mortars and rockets to pound Soledar in a relentless assault, fighting for victory after military setbacks turned what the Kremlin hoped would be a quick victory into a war of attrition that has dragged on for nearly 11 months without end.

“Civilians are trying to survive in the midst of this bloodshed as the Russians intensify their attacks,” Kirylenko said.

“For every 100 meters, Russia pays with 50 dead”

Two Ukrainian soldiers reporting from Bakhmut on Thursday morning say that the situation in Soledar is difficult, explain why, and note that for every 100 meters of advance, the Russians “pay” with 50 dead

The Ukrainian military says it is carrying out counterattacks in Soledar

According to CNN, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday that it is carrying out counterattacks in Soledar, a city in the east of the country that has suffered heavy Russian bombing.

“After several days of withdrawal, we even made a little progress,” the 46th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in Telegram. “The station is ours. The mine is ours. We are waiting for your support. Soledar is Ukraine.”

Russia is trying to surround the nearby Bakhmut with the help of both Wagner’s private contractors and regular troops, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar reported on Telegram.

“Our soldiers bravely hold their positions and inflict numerous losses on the enemy,” she said.

• Read also: Why is Russia so eager to capture the city of Soledar?

The importance of the city of Soledar from a military point of view is minimal. However, its capture would allow Russian forces, particularly Wagner’s mercenary group, to focus on the nearby town of Bakhmut, which has been a target since the summer.

If Russian forces do capture the city, it would mark Moscow’s first victory in Donbas in months – potentially giving President Vladimir Putin a breather after a series of battlefield defeats since last summer.

The Institute for the Study of War said that control of Soledar “will not necessarily allow Russian forces to exercise control over critical Ukrainian land lines of communication with Bakhmut,” the top prize.

• Read also: PHOTO Satellite images of Soledarthe Ukrainian city where the fiercest battles are currently taking place

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