02:20Ukraine: 'Tough battle' for Soledar, Bakhmut, Donetsk Region continues - Zelensky
The battle for Soledar, Bakhmut and the Donetsk Region continues, stated President Zelensky during an address to the nation in Kiev on Friday.
"The tough battle for Donetsk region continues, the battle for Bakhmut and Soledar, for Kreminna, for other towns and villages in the east of our country continues. 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“, said Zelensky.
He went on to thank the armed forces for their contribution saying „I thank every soldier, sergeant, officer of brigades and other army units who are bravely and staunchly performing their tasks. 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 Legion of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense and the Shaman unit, who are bravely defending Bakhmut.“
"Three hundred twenty-four days of the full-scale war, and how things have changed for Russia. They are already gnawing among themselves over who should be credited with some tactical advance. It's a clear signal of failure for the enemy. And it's another incentive for all of us to put more pressure on the occupier and to inflict heavier losses on the enemy," Zelensky further added.
Earlier in the day, Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov reported the 'liberation' of the city of Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, while speaking during his daily briefing in Moscow on Friday."The liberation of Soledar was completed on the evening of January 12, which is important for the successful offensive in Donetsk direction to continue," he claimed.
Konashenkov also reported that Russian air power, missiles and artillery had "carried out concentrated strikes on AFU positions in the city, preventing the transfer of reserves and ammunition supplies, as well as enemy’s attempts to retreat to other defence lines".
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February after recognising the independence of the DPR and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
02:20The battle for Soledar, Bakhmut and the Donetsk Region continues, stated President Zelensky during an address to the nation in Kiev on Friday.
"The tough battle for Donetsk region continues, the battle for Bakhmut and Soledar, for Kreminna, for other towns and villages in the east of our country continues. 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“, said Zelensky.
He went on to thank the armed forces for their contribution saying „I thank every soldier, sergeant, officer of brigades and other army units who are bravely and staunchly performing their tasks. 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 Legion of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense and the Shaman unit, who are bravely defending Bakhmut.“
"Three hundred twenty-four days of the full-scale war, and how things have changed for Russia. They are already gnawing among themselves over who should be credited with some tactical advance. It's a clear signal of failure for the enemy. And it's another incentive for all of us to put more pressure on the occupier and to inflict heavier losses on the enemy," Zelensky further added.
Earlier in the day, Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov reported the 'liberation' of the city of Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, while speaking during his daily briefing in Moscow on Friday."The liberation of Soledar was completed on the evening of January 12, which is important for the successful offensive in Donetsk direction to continue," he claimed.
Konashenkov also reported that Russian air power, missiles and artillery had "carried out concentrated strikes on AFU positions in the city, preventing the transfer of reserves and ammunition supplies, as well as enemy’s attempts to retreat to other defence lines".
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February after recognising the independence of the DPR and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.