Putin says everything is "going according to plan" and he has "seized" Soledar

Vladimir Putin, in an interview with presenter Pavlo Zarubin for the Rossiya-1 TV channel, boasted of the "positive dynamics" of the war against Ukraine, claiming the "capture" of Soledar. He claims that the situation is developing behind the plan of the Russian military command.

At the same time, the Kremlin head told propagandist Pavlo Zarubin: "The dynamics are positive. I hope that our fighters will please us with their results of combat work more than once again".

We shall remind you: the Russian Defence Ministry officially reported on the "taking under control" of the Soledar settlement in Donetsk Region back on 13 January. Ukrainian officials say that fighting with the occupants and the defence of Soledar are continuing. The Ukrainian armed forces warned Ukrainians that the enemy is intentionally stirring up information noise about Soledar, as it is trying to sow despondency in its own forces among the Ukrainian population.

The Russian occupants, having no success on the battlefield, continue to destroy the infrastructure and housing of the civilian population. They are launching strikes on populated areas, violating almost all norms of the International Humanitarian Law, laws and customs of war.