Ukraine confirms its troops have withdrawn from Soledar

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine confirmed on Wednesday its troops had withdrawn from Soledar in japanese Ukraine, virtually two weeks after Russian troops stated they’d captured the small salt-mining city.

“With a purpose to protect the lives of service personnel, the Defence Forces withdrew from Soledar,” army spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster Suspilne.

His remarks have been the primary Ukrainian affirmation that Russian forces have captured Soledar, which is within the Donetsk area.

“(Our forces) fulfilled their predominant activity: not permitting the enemy to systematically break by means of within the Donetsk path,” Cherevatyi was quoted as saying.

He stated Ukraine’s line of defense at Soledar had prevented Russian forces – which invaded Ukraine 11 months in the past – breaking by means of to its rear strains.

Cherevatyi stated Ukrainian forces had at no level been surrounded in Soledar throughout fierce preventing, and that no Ukrainian prisoners of struggle had been taken.

Soledar, which had a pre-war inhabitants of 10,000, turned the epicentre of Russia’s assault for a number of weeks at first of January, and fierce battles raged for management.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Enhancing by Tom Balmforth and Timothy Heritage)