The leader of Russias Wagner mercenary group claimed the capture of the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar early Wednesday, with heavy fighting ongoing in the salt-mining town near the city of Bakhmut.Ukraines government disagreements Wagner creator Yevgeny Prigozhins claim and it was difficult to individually verify either claim.

Wagner units took control of the entire territory of Soledar ...

No units aside from Wagner PMC fighters were associated with the storming of Soledar, Prigozhin said in an audio message released by his Concord firm.Prigozhin stated the center of Soledar, 15 kilometers from war-battered Bakhmut, was a cauldron of urban combating, apparently opposing his previous claim of total control of the town.

He included that the variety of captives would be released later on Wednesday.An image published by Concords Telegram channel showed Prigozhin positioning together with Wagner soldiers inside what is identified as a salt mine in Soledar.

Russian state media reported that Wagner took control of Soledars salt mines after intense combating.

If verified, the capture of Soledar would mark Russias greatest success in its war on Ukraine following months of retreats elsewhere.Prigozhin is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has actually been struck with Western sanctions.

His public profile has actually risen in current months, honestly slamming some of the Russian armed forces top brass over problems in Ukraine.The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War believe tank stated Tuesday that Prigozhin intends to use claims of Wagners successes in Soledar to enhance its credibility as a reliable battling force in contrast with the Russian army.

The capture of Soledar is an essential goal for the Russian military in its bigger campaign to take control of Bakhmut, where Russia and Ukraine have actually faced off in intense combating for months in spite of heavy losses.But Ukraines Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar stated the combating in Soledar was still raving since Tuesday.

The enemy overlooks the heavy losses of its personnel and continues to storm actively, Reuters quoted Maliar as stating.

The techniques to our positions are just scattered with the bodies of dead opponent fighters.

Ukraines Defense Ministry called the storming of Soledar masochistic.

Even after suffering enormous losses, [R] ussia is still manically attempting to take Soledar-- home to the largest salt mine in Europe, it tweeted.