Russian breakthrough and capture (27 December 2022 – 16 January 2023)

Following the Russian capture of Bakhmutske on 27 December,[58] Russian forces, spearheaded by Wagner PMC fighters, began storming Soledar from the south and east. In January 2023, the last 500 civilians, mostly elderly, began fleeing Soledar.[60] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces seized the Dekonska railway station [uk] on the southern outskirts of Soledar on 4 January 2023.[61] On 5 January, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed to have pushed Ukrainian forces back to the Soledar Salt Mine, although this claim could not be independently verified.[62] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed there were seventy-six artillery assaults on Soledar on 7 January alone, with the 46th Airmobile Brigade defending much of the settlement.[63][64] On 9 January, Ukrainian Colonel Yuriy Yurchik was killed by artillery fire while defending Soledar.[65]

Between 10–13 January, the Russian defence ministry and Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin repeatedly claimed Russian forces had fully captured Soledar, especially after securing portions of Soledar's center,[66][67][68][69][70] however the Ukrainian defence ministry continued to deny Russian control of the settlement, stating that pockets still existed in the center, and that Ukraine still held on to the western portion of Soledar, including the Sil railway station.[71][72][73][74][75][76] Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote that "battles continue [in Soledar]", and said Ukrainian fighters were "bravely trying to maintain the defence."[77] Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy thanked the 46th and 77th Airmobile Brigades for their defense of the settlement.[77] The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American think tank and war observer, reported that Russia had likely captured Soledar proper on 11 January and were conducting clearing operations by 12 January.[78] On 14 January, the ISW reported that Ukrainian elements still controlled some territory within Soledar's administrative borders, particularly a mine (known as mine #7) on the westernmost outskirts of the settlement, but no longer held positions within Soledar proper. The ISW could not confirm who controlled the Sil railway station at the time.[79] Ukraine's 46th Airmobile Brigade said their troops were surrounded but resisting Russian advance into Soledar's northwestern edge.[80]

On 16 January, The Kyiv Independent reported that Russian troops had full control over the administrative territory of Soledar, citing a Ukrainian military source. Ukrainian drone unit commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdy confirmed that Russia had captured Soledar's last industrial zone, located near mine #7.[81][82] Ukraine did not officially confirm the loss of Soledar until 25 January, when Ukrainian authorities stated their troops had retreated from the front line settlement.[83]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5310323&forum_id=2#46078431)