DONETSK, January 22. /TASS/. Ukrainian troops tried to destroy salt mines while retreating from the city of Soledar, acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said on Sunday after visiting the city.

"While retreating [from Soledar], the enemy tried to destroy salt mines by blowing up structures inside them to hamper access to the mines. But everything can be restored and we will do it without fail," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

The Russian defense ministry said earlier that in the evening on January 12 Russian troops had liberated Soledar after days of fierce fighting. According to the ministry’s spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, control over Soledar will make it possible to block channels of supplies to Ukrainian forces in Artyomovsk located southwest of Soledar and later encircle them there.