Soledar, Bakhmut remain under Ukrainian control - military spox

This was stated by the spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces, Serhiy Cherevaty, who spoke on the air of the telethon, an Ukrinforn correspondent reports.

 "Soledar is not under the control of the Russian Federation," Cherevaty said.

 According to him, fierce battles are currently taking place there - only today there were 76 shellings and 10 combat clashes.  "Our Armed Forces and command are doing everything to inflict maximum damage on the enemy in terms of personnel and equipment ... and to preserve own forces as much as possible," said the spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces.

He added that the tactics pursued by the Russians have not changed: they use personnel that continuously "rolls" onto the positions of the Ukrainian defenders in waves.  "Step by step, they achieved small gains.  Our soldiers ... are on the defensive, but the tactical situation sometimes forced them to change their positions," the spokesman explained.

Commenting on the situation in Bakhmut, Cherevaty noted that the city remains under the control of the Armed Forces, and that fighting continues.  "So far, this is one of the most intense areas of the front, where combat clashes and constant shelling by the enemy are ongoing," he said.

The spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces also reported that combat operations are ongoing in the direction of Svatove-Kreminna.  The enemy is regrouping, trying to counterattack in certain directions, but suffering significant losses and retreating.  The Armed Forces act based on the situation.

Regarding Putin's order to introduce a "ceasefire regime" from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7, Cherevaty said: "Of course, none of this happened."

Earlier propagandist Russian publications reported the alleged "capture" of Soledar by the invasion forces.