Russia Admits Wagner Group 'Captured' Soledar

The Russian military was forced to admit on Friday night that a powerful mercenary group had captured the town of Soledar and not its own troops, James Kilner reported for The Telegraph.

Photo Insert: Western military observers said Soledar as having little strategic value.

After Ukrainian forces withdrew on Friday, Russia's ministry of defense initially proclaimed that its “brave paratroopers” had “liberated” the small salt mining town in Donbas.

However, that version of events was swiftly contradicted by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary Wagner group, who said “not a single paratrooper" was involved.

In a humiliating and rare recognition of the private fighting force, the Russian military later published a new statement saying: "This combat mission was successfully implemented by the courageous and selfless actions of the volunteers of the Wagner assault squads." Prigozhin said he wanted Soledar and Bakhmut for their salt and gypsum mines.

Western military observers said Soledar as having little strategic value.

In a late-night video address on Friday, Reuters reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky maintained that the battle was not yet over and his forces were continuing to fight Russian troops in Soledar and other cities.

He mocked the Russian defense ministry statement as "a clear sign of failure for the enemy" and said it should serve as an incentive to put more pressure on Moscow's forces.

"They are already fighting among themselves over who should be credited with some tactical advance," he said in a late-night video address, Caleb Davis, Mark Trevelyan, and David Ljunggren reported for Reuters.

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