Wagner Claims Control Of Soledar, 40 Rockets Fired At Mykolaiv, Ukraine Kills 490 Russian Troops

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed his forces have completed the takeover of the Ukrainian town of Soledar. If confirmed, the takeover would mark Moscow’s first major battlefield success since last summer. Ukraine said that its forces killed over 490 Russian troops in the last 24 hours. Ukraine’s General Staff said that Russian forces fired more than 40 rockets at the Mykolaiv region. Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba said Germany's refusal to send battle tanks was costing lives. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that Russia attacked the region shortly after Baerbock’s surprise visit. Russia’s TASS agency claims that the West’s military aid to Ukraine was practically equal to Russia’s 2022 defence budget. One of Vladimir Putin's closest allies said that Russia is now fighting the US-led NATO military alliance in Ukraine. US and Ukrainian officials have told CNN that Russia’s artillery fire is down dramatically from its wartime high, in some places by as much as 75%. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has told US President Joe Biden that Ottawa will buy a US-manufactured NASAMS for Ukraine.