Ukrainian defenders succeeded in thwarting the occupiers' plans to capture Soledar and surround Bakhmut in 2022. However, the Russians did not give up their desire to capture the entire Donetsk region. This was stated by the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
"We managed to thwart the enemy's plans. Even in the conditions of the enemy's superiority in forces and means, they could not fulfill the task set by their command - to capture Soledar and surround Bakhmut by December 26," he said.
At the same time, the Russians did not abandon their plans to enter the borders of the Donetsk region. Thus, the offensive group of enemy troops continues its creeping offensive in the region. Numerous assaults on Ukrainian positions continued even on New Year's Eve, and during the first three days of the new year, the intensity of hostilities gradually increased.
In addition, despite the fact that the Russians have an advantage in weapons and military in the hottest areas of the front, the level of their irreversible losses is much higher than in Ukraine.