Ukrainian troops to train on Patriot missile system in Oklahoma
PBS NewsHourDec 22, 2022
The Facts
On Friday, the spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern military command rejected Russia's claims that it has captured Soledar in Donetsk, insisting the fight for the small mining town in the eastern part of the country was still going on. "Our units are there, the town is not under Russian control," Serhiy Cherevatyi stated.
Earlier, Russian lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky said that Soledar is a turning point of the country's military operation, as it facilitates the capture of Bakhmut (Artyomovsk in Russian) and other cities, and allows Russian troops to cut off Ukrainian ammunition supply routes.
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
After taking Soledar, Russia can now use freed-up forces to achieve similar results in Bakhmut, which it can attack from multiple directions. The success in Soledar also opens the door for further Russian advances in the wider Donetsk region.
Anti-Russia narrative
Russia is spreading false news about the capture of Soledar to give its population positive news from an otherwise disastrous military campaign. Russia is also desperately trying to shore up support ahead of future mobilization drives.
