Russia claims control of Soledar, Ukraine says fighting ongoing
Kramatorsk (Ukraine) (AFP) - Russia said Friday its forces had wrested control of the war-scarred town of Soledar in east Ukraine, its first claim of victory in months of battlefield setbacks, but Ukraine said fierce fighting was still under way. Both sides have conceded heavy losses in the battle for the salt mining outpost, with Moscow desperate to sell any win back home after repeated humiliations and Ukraine determined to hold -- and win back -- ground. The Russian defence ministry announced it had "completed the liberation" of Soledar late the previous day and that the victory would pave ...