MADRID, January 16. /TASS/. Servicemen from two battalions of the Ukrainian armed forces abandoned their positions on the front line near Artyomovsk and Soledar due to a shortage of ammunition, the Spanish newspaper El Pais wrote on Monday.

According to the newspaper, information about the retreat was confirmed by a tank commander from the 24th Tank Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army, going by the code name "Burshtyn." According to him, of the six combat-ready tanks in his company available just two weeks ago, only one remains.

Russian troops completed the liberation of the city Soledar from Ukrainian troops in the evening of January 12. According to Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, full control of Soledar makes it possible to cut off supply routes for Ukrainian troops in Artyomovsk, and then block and encircle the remaining Ukrainian units there into a cauldron.