Soledar is falling
As predicted in my last article, Soledar is now falling rapdily under Russian control, although Ukrainian troops appear to have been ordered to fight to the last man. Soledar does not appear to have completely fallen. Ukrainian troops are trying to get out if they can, despite Banderite “barrier troops”. I am doing a VO for SouthFront reporting on that now. I have no reason to doubt the information, which is consistent to other sources, even CNN.
Next is Bakhmut. Lots of underground defenses, so a bit tougher. But now the Russians have control of the salt mines in Soledar and therefore the tunnels to and underneath Bakhmut.
It seems that the Ukrainian 46th Airborne Assault Brigade, one of their best units, has been wiped out in this battle. If so, we can expect less robust Ukrainian opposition to future Russian advances. Zelenskyy should be awarded a Hero of the Russian Federation medal for the help he has lent Moscow in destroying the Ukrainian army.