On July 13th, Russian-led forces entered the cities of Soledar and Seversk in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The reports were confirmed by the DPR Interior Ministry officials.The Russian ”O” grouping deployed in the north of the DPR destroyed the last stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the western outskirts of Verkhnekamenskoye, pawing the way towards Seversk from the eastern direction.
According to the footage provided by the Russian military, the AFU suffered heavy losses during the battles. Some of Ukrainian forces retreated to the city of Seversk where fighting broke out on the eastern outskirts.
Amid the ongoing advance of the ground forces, the AFU positions on the heights near Seversk are subjected to heavy artillery and rocket attacks by the Russian military.
In the Seversk region, fighting continues in the area of Ivano-Dariivka located south of Verhnekamenskoe and in the village of Serebryanka located north of the town.
On the same day, assistant to the Interior Minister of the LPR declared that the Russian Army had entered the outskirts of Soledar. According to the official, LPR artillery units took control of a Ukrainian ammunition depot when entering the city.
The fighting reached the outskirts of Soledar after Russian-led forces repelled the AFU units from their positions in Vladimirovka and Novaya Kamenka. Some clashes continue in the village of Stryapovka. To the north-east of Soledar, fighting continues in the village of Yakovlevka.
The advancing forces include Russian units and the 6th Cossack regiment of the LPR, which after the victory in the battle for Lisichansk continued fighting on the DPR front lines.