in the second division, i think. hello and welcome. russia says its forces have completed the capture of soledar, a small town in eastern ukraine that s been the focus of intense fighting. moscow called it an important step in its offensive which would allow russian troops to cut off ukrainian forces in nearby bakhmut. if russia s claims are true, it would be the first ukrainan town it has captured sincejuly after six months of russian military setbacks. but ukraine s president zelensky says the battle in soledar is still under way. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse reports. a salt mining town under russian assault, soledar has become a story of carnage and contradiction. after months of bloody fighting, an attempt by russia to give a clear message. for the first time, a claim, to be in complete control, and that this town is the start of something bigger. the capture of soledar became possible due to the constant destruction of the enemy, says russia s defenc
hello and welcome. russia says its forces have completed the capture of soledar a small town in eastern ukraine that s been the focus of intense fighting. moscow called it an important step in its offensive which would allow russian troops to cut off ukrainian forces in nearby bakhmut. if russia s claims are true, it would be the first ukrainan town it has captured sincejuly after six months of russian forces in nearby bakhmut. but ukraine s president zelensky says the battle in soledar is still underway. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse reports. a salt mining town under russian assault, soledar has become a story of carnage and contradiction. after months of bloody fighting, an attempt by russia to give a clear message. for the first time, a claim, to be in complete control, and that this town is the start of something bigger. the capture of soledar became possible due to the constant destruction of the enemy, says russia s defence ministry. by ground at
the fear is, without them, russia s advance might not stop at soledar. james waterhouse, bbc news, kyiv. elizabeth shackelford is a senior fellow on us foreign policy at the chicago council on global affairs. i asked her what she makes of the russian victory announcement in soledar. it is hard to independently verify if russia has taken soledar at this point, but making the assumption that they have, it is contested but they have certainly been been making gains there, i would disagree with russia s claimed that this is a strategic victory. it is certainly a tactical step to overrunning bakhmut which is part of the overall plan of taking the donbas but not a big step along that path. but what i find more notable
i m joined now by elizabeth shackelford, senior fellow in us foreign policy at the chicago council on global affairs. what you make of this latest development? it is hard to independently verify if russia has taken soledar at this point but making the assumption that they have, it is contested but they have certainly been making gains there. i would disagree with russia s claimed that this is a strategic victory. it is certainly a tactical step to overrunning bakhmut which is part of the overall plan but not a big step along that path. but what i find more notable is already been indicated is that this is russia s first victory in a while. so all my mind is does this indicate russia s ability to conduct offensive operations. we will find out over the coming days and weeks. bi;