The Armed Forces could get out of Soledar, then the Russian Federation would try to surround Bakhmut - Britain's intelligence

Ukrainian defenders have equipped new defense borders in the west of Soledar after leaving the city on January 16, the UK Ministry of Defense reported. Probably, the Ukrainian defense forces left the Soledar of Donetsk region on January 16 and equipped new defensive borders west of the city. Russian troops will further try to surround Bakhmut. On Wednesday, January 18, the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom reported with reference to intelligence data.

"By the end of January 16, 2023, Ukrainian forces were probably withdrawn from the city of Soledar in the Donbass . . . probably established new defensive borders in the West," the publication said. The British intelligence stated that the city is under the control of Russian military and militants of the Wagner Group. The latter were the major part of the forces thrown into Soledar.

This operation of the Russian Federation is aimed at being surrounded by Bakhmut of Donetsk region - one of the two routes of supply of Ukrainian troops placed in the city, "is under increasing pressure", reported at the British Defense Ministry. The agency also shared the pictures that have shot that since the beginning of January, the south and east of Bakhmut continue to be under intense artillery fire.

In intelligence, Britain believes that Ukrainian forces are likely to continue to defend themselves on the outskirts of the city. We will remind, on January 17 the speaker of the eastern group of the Armed Forces Sergey Cherevaty stated that the Ukrainian forces continue to stay in Soledar and continuously strike the enemy.