Russia ‘captures eastern town of Soledar’

Soledar is located in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province, one of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed in September.

Smoke raises after shelling in Soledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine (Libkos/AP)

Russia has claimed its forces have captured a fiercely contested salt mining town, in what would mark a rare victory for the Kremlin after a series of setbacks in its invasion of Ukraine.

There was no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian authorities of Soledar’s fall.