Ukraine military near Soledar 'holding position'

STORY: "The intensity of shelling rose by about 70 percent. But nothing changed radically. Our fighters are holding the defence as they used to hold it," said a Ukrainian serviceman who uses the call-sign "Buk" as loud explosions were heard in the background.

The ultra-nationalist contract militia Wagner, run by an ally of President Vladimir Putin outside the main chain of military command, claims to have taken Soledar after intense fighting that it said had left the town strewn with Ukrainian dead. But Moscow has held off officially proclaiming victory.

Ukraine's military has denied Soledar has fallen and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mocked Russian claims to have taken over the city, saying in a video address Wednesday (January 11) that fighting was still going on.