Head of Russia’s Wagner group says his troops have taken control of Soledar

Yevgeny Prigozhin released this photograph of himself (centre) surrounded by Wagner fighters, in what appeared to be one of Soledar’s salt mines. Photograph: Telegram

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has claimed his forces have completed the takeover of the Ukrainian town of Soledar, which if confirmed would mark Moscow’s first major battlefield success since last summer.

“Wagner units have taken the whole territory of Soledar under control,” said Yevgeny Prigozhin in an audio message released on his Telegram channel late on Tuesday.