Founder of Wagner PMC Evgeny Prigozhin continues to use reports of the success of the group in Soledar to strengthen his company as an effective combat force, the American Institute for Studying War (ISW) writes in the summary.
Vagner fighters said that over the past few days they seized the territory within Soledar, and many Russian sources consider these successes as signs that Prigozhin’s forces can soon surround Bakhmut.
The video, which spread on social networks on January 9, shows how Wagner fighters conduct fierce rifle weapons battle near the city administration building in the center of Soledar, the ISW report said.
Prigozhin said on January 9 that “exclusively” divisions of his company are occupied by positions in Soledar, and noted that Wagner fighters are currently conducting fierce battles for the building of the city administration. “
ISW experts believe that Prigozhin will continue to use both confirmed and fabricated messages about Wagner’s successes in Soledar and Bakhmut to strengthen the reputation of its company as the only Russian group in Ukraine that can achieve tangible successes.