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Bloodied But Not Defeated: Ukrainian Troops Fight On In Soledar Despite Russian Claims Of Victory

Ukrainian holdouts in Soledar and Bakhmut are bloodying Moscow's troops in fierce fighting as Russia claims victory.

RFE/RL photojournalist Serhiy Nuzhnenko and Reuters photojournalist Oleksandr Ratushniak captured these images of war on January 14–15.

A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar toward Russian positions near Soledar on January 14. Russian mercenaries from the Vagner group claimed on January 10 to have seized control of Soledar, though heavy fighting continues in and around the Ukrainian salt-mining town.  
1 A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar toward Russian positions near Soledar on January 14.

Russian mercenaries from the Vagner group claimed on January 10 to have seized control of Soledar, though heavy fighting continues in and around the Ukrainian salt-mining town.





 
A Ukrainian soldier fires a machine gun at Russian positions near the eastern town of Soledar on January 14. While Soledar offers very little in military value, taking it would be Moscow's most significant battlefield gain in months.
2 A Ukrainian soldier fires a machine gun at Russian positions near the eastern town of Soledar on January 14. While Soledar offers very little in military value, taking it would be Moscow's most significant battlefield gain in months.
A Ukrainian soldier carries a mortar that will be launched toward Russian positions near Soledar on January 14. "Everything is completely destroyed. There is almost no life left. What is Russia trying to gain there?" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked last week.
3 A Ukrainian soldier carries a mortar that will be launched toward Russian positions near Soledar on January 14.

"Everything is completely destroyed. There is almost no life left. What is Russia trying to gain there?" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked last week.
The bloodied bulletproof vest of a Ukrainian serviceman lies on the ground near Soledar.  Both sides have not disclosed casualties in what many analysts are calling some of the most intense fighting of the war.
4 The bloodied bulletproof vest of a Ukrainian serviceman lies on the ground near Soledar. 

Both sides have not disclosed casualties in what many analysts are calling some of the most intense fighting of the war.
A satellite view from January 10 captures some of the devastation that a part of Soledar, a town that formerly had 10,000 inhabitants, has endured.  
5 A satellite view from January 10 captures some of the devastation that a part of Soledar, a town that formerly had 10,000 inhabitants, has endured.

 
A Ukrainian soldier takes a break during the fighting in Soledar on January 14. As analysts continue to raise questions about the strategic significance of the fierce fighting for Soledar and Bakhmut, Russia continues to invest heavily in trying to take the eastern towns, which hold symbolic value for the Kremlin.  
6 A Ukrainian soldier takes a break during the fighting in Soledar on January 14.

As analysts continue to raise questions about the strategic significance of the fierce fighting for Soledar and Bakhmut, Russia continues to invest heavily in trying to take the eastern towns, which hold symbolic value for the Kremlin.
 
A Ukrainian soldier walks near a BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle near the town of Soledar on January 14.  
7 A Ukrainian soldier walks near a BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle near the town of Soledar on January 14.



 
A Ukrainian BMP-2 fires at Russian forces near Soledar. A Russian victory in Soledar would allow Moscow's forces to inch closer to the bigger city of Bakhmut, which lies some 15 kilometers southwest -- a prize the Kremlin has failed to seize.
8 A Ukrainian BMP-2 fires at Russian forces near Soledar.

A Russian victory in Soledar would allow Moscow's forces to inch closer to the bigger city of Bakhmut, which lies some 15 kilometers southwest -- a prize the Kremlin has failed to seize.
Ukrainian soldiers engage Russian positions on the front near the city of Bakhmut on January 15. Also known as the "Bakhmut Meat Grinder," the battle for the city, which formerly had 70,000 inhabitants, has been raging for months, leaving behind apocalyptic scenes of death and destruction.
9 Ukrainian soldiers engage Russian positions on the front near the city of Bakhmut on January 15.

Also known as the "Bakhmut Meat Grinder," the battle for the city, which formerly had 70,000 inhabitants, has been raging for months, leaving behind apocalyptic scenes of death and destruction.
Ukrainian soldiers fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system toward Russian positions on the front line near the town of Bakhmut on January 15. In comments broadcast on January 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in Soledar, saying: "There is a positive dynamic [in the fighting]. Everything is developing according to plan." Kyiv denied the claim saying that heavy fighting is continuing.
10 Ukrainian soldiers fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system toward Russian positions on the front line near the town of Bakhmut on January 15.

In comments broadcast on January 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in Soledar, saying: "There is a positive dynamic [in the fighting]. Everything is developing according to plan."

Kyiv denied the claim saying that heavy fighting is continuing.
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