Advisor to the Acting Head of the DPR Gagin: Up to 500 APU fighters remain in Soledar

About 500 Ukrainian fighters may remain in the city of Soledar blocked by Russian troops. They were unable to evacuate with other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was stated by Jan Gagin, adviser to the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin.

According to the adviser, the best option for these people would be to surrender – “it’s stupid and inglorious to die in an already liberated city.” Many of the militants are wounded and demoralized. Even in the number of 500 people, they are not able to seriously resist.

“They (command – ed.) could have left about this number of servicemen there. They didn’t even leave it on purpose. They left someone, someone didn’t hear about the retreat. This is an approximate figure, which is called by our commanders on the ground”– quotes Gagin TASS.

Recall, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Soledar is blocked by the Russian Airborne Forces from the north and south.

Russian special operation to protect Donbass

The DPR and LPR announced the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass on February 17. Then they announced the evacuation of the population.

On February 21, the heads of the republics turned to Putin with a request to recognize their independence. The President held a meeting of the Security Council, after which he recognized the LNR and the DNR. Friendship and cooperation agreements were signed with both republics, which were later ratified by the State Duma and the Federation Council.

Two days later, the heads of the DPR and LPR turned to Putin with a request to help repel Kyiv’s aggression in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and civilian casualties. The next day, February 24, the Russian leader addressed the nation and announced the start of a special operation in Ukraine to protect Donbass.

On September 30, Putin and the heads of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions signed agreements on the entry of these regions into the Russian Federation.