The Russian army on Wednesday (January 11) countered mercenary group Wagner's claim a day back that its fighters had taken control of the Soledar City in Ukraine. Issuing a statement, the Russian army said the battle for Soledar is ongoing, adding assault squads were fighting in the city, a report by news agency AFP said.&nbsp;The army said its forces blocked Soledar from the&nbsp;northern and southern areas and that the air force was striking enemy households.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-us-to-supply-armoured-combat-vehicles-to-ukraine-549894">Germany, US to supply armoured combat vehicles to Ukraine</a>

Earlier, Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed late Tuesday that the group took control of the entire territory of the city. Prigozhin added the number of captives would be announced on Wednesday but there is no update yet. The Wagner chief also published a photograph of himself in military uniform surrounded by the group's fighters.&nbsp;

Before the Russian army's response, the Ukrainian government denied Wagner's claim of taking control of Soledar.&nbsp;"Soledar&nbsp;was, is and will be Ukrainian," the strategic communications branch of the Ukrainian military said in a statement, an earlier AFP report said.&nbsp;The branch said that photographs released by Wagner&nbsp;that Russian media said were taken in&nbsp;Soledar&nbsp;had been taken elsewhere.

ALSO WATCH | German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visits Kharkiv

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As the war in Ukraine continues, the Russian military struck Kharkiv city in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, just hours after a visit by German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.

Taking to Telegram, regional governor Oleg Synegubov warned Kharkiv's residents to stay in shelters as occupiers were bombing again. The city has faced heavy bombardment since the beginning of Russia's offensive in Ukraine in February last year. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-is-the-western-press-asking-same-agenda-driven-motivated-questions-462899">'Give Ukraine weapons': Is the western press asking same, agenda-driven, motivated questions?</a>

German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock became the first highest-level Western official to visit Kharkiv, AFP reported. Baerbock vowed further German support for Ukraine and stressed that her government will keep supplying weapons that Ukraine needs to free its citizens who are still suffering under the terror of Russian occupation.

The German foreign minister provided Ukraine with the following- a &nbsp;"further help package" of power generators, 20 million euros ($21 million) for demining and 20 million euros as financial help for the Starlink project ensuring internet access.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Russian army on Wednesday (January 11) countered mercenary group Wagner's claim a day back that its fighters had taken control of the Soledar City in Ukraine.

The Russian army on Wednesday (January 11) countered mercenary group Wagner's claim a day back that its fighters had taken control of the Soledar City in Ukraine. Issuing a statement, the Russian army said the battle for Soledar is ongoing, adding assault squads were fighting in the city, a report by news agency AFP said. The army said its forces blocked Soledar from the northern and southern areas and that the air force was striking enemy households. ALSO READ | Germany, US to supply armoured combat vehicles to Ukraine Earlier, Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed late Tuesday that the group took control of the entire territory of the city. Prigozhin added the number of captives would be announced on Wednesday but there is no update yet. The Wagner chief also published a photograph of himself in military uniform surrounded by the group's fighters. Before the Russian army's response, the Ukrainian government denied Wagner's claim of taking control of Soledar. "Soledar was, is and will be Ukrainian," the strategic communications branch of the Ukrainian military said in a statement, an earlier AFP report said. The branch said that photographs released by Wagner that Russian media said were taken in Soledar had been taken elsewhere. ALSO WATCH | German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visits Kharkiv As the war in Ukraine continues, the Russian military struck Kharkiv city in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, just hours after a visit by German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock. Taking to Telegram, regional governor Oleg Synegubov warned Kharkiv's residents to stay in shelters as occupiers were bombing again. The city has faced heavy bombardment since the beginning of Russia's offensive in Ukraine in February last year. ALSO READ | 'Give Ukraine weapons': Is the western press asking same, agenda-driven, motivated questions? German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock became the first highest-level Western official to visit Kharkiv, AFP reported. Baerbock vowed further German support for Ukraine and stressed that her government will keep supplying weapons that Ukraine needs to free its citizens who are still suffering under the terror of Russian occupation. The German foreign minister provided Ukraine with the following- a "further help package" of power generators, 20 million euros ($21 million) for demining and 20 million euros as financial help for the Starlink project ensuring internet access. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia responds to Wagner’s claim of control over Soledar, says fight for city ongoing

Days after the Kremlin confirmed President Putin had allowed Syrian fighters to take part in the Ukraine war, Chechen&nbsp;leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he had travelled to Ukraine to meet Russian troops attacking Kyiv.

Reports claimed a television channel in Grozny, Chechnya, showed images of Kadyrov in its Telegram social media channel in a room with Russian troops discussing military operations outside Ukraine's capital.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-war-who-are-the-wagner-mercenaries-460674">Also Read:&nbsp;Ukraine-Russia war: Who are the 'Wagner' mercenaries?</a>

Who is Ramzan Kadyrov? 
Kadyrov's feared paramilitary force has been accused of unleashing terror in Chechnya where he reportedly rules with an iron fist.

He is blacklisted by Western nations. The Chechnyan warlord is believed to be close to President Putin.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/napoleons-waterloo-hitlers-barbarossa-5-lessons-putin-can-learn-from-failed-war-campaigns-461556">Also Read in Pics |&nbsp;Napoleon's Waterloo &amp; Hitler's Barbarossa: 5 lessons for Putin</a>

Kadyrov, 45, is the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov who was assassinated in 2004. He took over the presidency in 2007 while he was just 30.

His father and former president Akhmad Kadyrov had raised warcry against Russia during the&nbsp;first Chechen war in 1994 which resulted in the battle of Grozny during former President Boris Yelstin's tenure in the mid-1900s. Akhmad later switched sides to Russia during the second Chechen war. &nbsp;

Kadyrov was declared the caretaker prime minister of Chechnya in 2005 after former PM Sergey Abramov was injured in a car accident and became PM in 2006 as he rose to power during Putin's regime.

Kadyrov linked to assassination of Chechen fighter in Berlin?

In 2019&nbsp;Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen fighter was killed in a Berlin park. He had fought in the second Chechen war against Russian forces from 2001-2005.

UK police had apprehended the suspected killer who was reportedly a Russian man. Reports linked Khangoshvili's killing to Ramzan Kadyrov although it could be not be proved even as Russia rejected any links to the ruthless murder.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Days after the Kremlin confirmed President Putin had allowed Syrian fighters to take part in the Ukraine war, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he had travelled to Ukraine to meet Russian troops attacking Kyiv.

Days after the Kremlin confirmed President Putin had allowed Syrian fighters to take part in the Ukraine war, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he had travelled to Ukraine to meet Russian troops attacking Kyiv. Reports claimed a television channel in Grozny, Chechnya, showed images of Kadyrov in its Telegram social media channel in a room with Russian troops discussing military operations outside Ukraine's capital. Also Read: Ukraine-Russia war: Who are the 'Wagner' mercenaries? Who is Ramzan Kadyrov? Kadyrov's feared paramilitary force has been accused of unleashing terror in Chechnya where he reportedly rules with an iron fist. He is blacklisted by Western nations. The Chechnyan warlord is believed to be close to President Putin. Also Read in Pics | Napoleon's Waterloo & Hitler's Barbarossa: 5 lessons for Putin Kadyrov, 45, is the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov who was assassinated in 2004. He took over the presidency in 2007 while he was just 30. His father and former president Akhmad Kadyrov had raised warcry against Russia during the first Chechen war in 1994 which resulted in the battle of Grozny during former President Boris Yelstin's tenure in the mid-1900s. Akhmad later switched sides to Russia during the second Chechen war. Kadyrov was declared the caretaker prime minister of Chechnya in 2005 after former PM Sergey Abramov was injured in a car accident and became PM in 2006 as he rose to power during Putin's regime. Kadyrov linked to assassination of Chechen fighter in Berlin? In 2019 Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen fighter was killed in a Berlin park. He had fought in the second Chechen war against Russian forces from 2001-2005. UK police had apprehended the suspected killer who was reportedly a Russian man. Reports linked Khangoshvili's killing to Ramzan Kadyrov although it could be not be proved even as Russia rejected any links to the ruthless murder. (With inputs from Agencies)

Ukraine-Russia war: Who is Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov?

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Russia responds to Wagner’s claim of control over Soledar, says fight for city ongoing

Ukraine-Russia war: Who is Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov?