According to Novikov, the high command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had plans to launch simultaneous attacks against Kremennaya, in Lugansk, and in the direction of Kherson province.
However, the defeat of the Ukrainian forces in Soledar actually forced them to interrupt the attacks and transfer their reserves to Kremennaya, including those from the direction of Kherson, where they were preparing the main assault.
Novikov said that now, near Kremennaya, the Ukrainian artillery is firing at anything they can hit, while the Russians are identifying the enemy´s positions to suppress them.
On Tuesday the 17th, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, announced that the Soledar train station was in Russian hands.Meanwhile Serguei Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner PMC, announced that they had full control of the city of Soledar.
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