► Russia says it took Soledar, kyiv denies
Russia claimed on Friday, January 13, to have taken control of Soledar after a fierce battle. An announcement immediately denied by kyiv according to which of “fierce fighting” were still going on in this small town in eastern Ukraine.
“The liberation of the town of Soledar, which is of great importance for the continuation of offensive operations, was completed on January 12 in the evening” in the Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Heavy fighting is still going on in Soledar”, immediately replied to Ukrainian television the spokesman of the Eastern command of the Ukrainian army, Serhiy Tcherevaty. According to him, “Ukrainian armed forces maintain the situation (to Soledar) under control in difficult conditions » face “to the best units (from the Russian group of mercenaries) Wagner and other special forces » Russians.
► Ukraine again and again asks for heavy weapons
To face the Russian armada, kyiv has again called on its Western allies to provide it with more weapons and high-performance military equipment.
“To win this war, we need more military equipment, heavy equipment”urged Andriï Iermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, while Ukraine tirelessly calls for heavy tanks as well as long-range missiles.
► kyiv is considered a “de facto” member of NATO
Ukraine said on Friday that it had become ” in fact “ member of NATO. ” That is true. That’s a fact “Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told the BBC. “I am sure that in the near future we will become a member of NATO, de jure »he continued, echoing kyiv’s formal request on this subject.
The Alliance announced on Friday the deployment of Awacs surveillance aircraft to Romania from Tuesday, to support its reinforced presence in the region and “monitor Russian military activity”.