Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[Hollywood]

Unless Ukraine has a way to diffuse the explosives on the dam before detonation, they would probably benefit from at least trying to negotiate with Russia that they won't attempt to pursue them across or seize the dam for now. Russia keeps Crimea's water, Ukraine preserves the dam and the settlements downstream, and can shift their focus to Zaporizhzhia. Fording the Dnieper in Kherson isn't like the Oskil in Kharkiv. It's bigger, better defended, and more resource intensive. The AFU is better off pushing south from the east where they already control both sides of the river.

Of course this would be a problem later if Ukraine continues to make progress in the south, but it makes sense for now. Both sides have reasons to keep the dam intact.

In any case, it's not clear whether Russia intends to blow the dam no matter what after they retreat across or whether they only intend to if Ukraine attempts to seize it, so it might not matter either way.

If Russia were the ones advancing, would you blow the damn?  I'd definitely blow the damn.  On the 2nd day of the war, Zelensky blew up a damn to stop the Russian advance on Kyiv, and a few villages were flooded as a result.  https://www.npr.org/2022/09/06/1121201310/ukraine-flooded-village-dam-blown-up

[Hollywood]

Unless Ukraine has a way to diffuse the explosives on the dam before detonation, they would probably benefit from at least trying to negotiate with Russia that they won't attempt to pursue them across or seize the dam for now. Russia keeps Crimea's water, Ukraine preserves the dam and the settlements downstream, and can shift their focus to Zaporizhzhia. Fording the Dnieper in Kherson isn't like the Oskil in Kharkiv. It's bigger, better defended, and more resource intensive. The AFU is better off pushing south from the east where they already control both sides of the river.

Of course this would be a problem later if Ukraine continues to make progress in the south, but it makes sense for now. Both sides have reasons to keep the dam intact.

In any case, it's not clear whether Russia intends to blow the dam no matter what after they retreat across or whether they only intend to if Ukraine attempts to seize it, so it might not matter either way.

If Russia were the ones advancing, would you blow the damn?  I'd definitely blow the damn.  On the 2nd day of the war, Zelensky blew up a damn to stop the Russian advance on Kyiv, and a few villages were flooded as a result.  https://www.npr.org/2022/09/06/1121201310/ukraine-flooded-village-dam-blown-up

In 1940, the Dutch opened the dikes and flooded parts of their country in order to try to slow the Germans. Starting floods for military reasons has a long precedent in history.

You're Correct. 

"In 1941, as Nazi German troops swept through Soviet-era Ukraine, Josef Stalin's secret police blew up a hydroelectric dam in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya to slow the Nazi advance."
https://www.rferl.org/a/european-remembrance-day-ukraine-little-known-ww2-tragedy/25083847.html

I'm just kind of flabbergasted that the Russians had considered that option, but never put took their shot.  They could have solidified their positions in the East with those 40,000 Experienced Troops they had to rotate in and out of Kherson.  The modest force Putin initially sent turned out to be hilariously inadequate, and his tactics were almost too humane, to defeat a NATO trained army with increasing supplies of advanced weaponry.  Is it really fair to compare Putin to Hitler?  I mean fair to Hitler? LOL.     

[Hollywood]

I thought the argument against Russia blowing the dam is that Crimea water supply would be doomed, but maybe they assume it's doomed anyway.

Doomed, huh?  Zelensky is such a drama queen. All they got to do is boil the water in a pot, unless they're worried about chemical or radioactive contaminants.  Also, I think Crimea has its own River Basin independent of Dnipro.     

[Hollywood]

I never even considered that Russia could just blow-up all those damns along the Dnieper River until Zelensky mentioned it today.  In one swift act, Putin could deny Zelensky his Kherson victory.  The Zap Power Plant would be completely safe cause it was disconnected and safely put off-line.  They literally had to do it, because Zelensky was F-ing shelling it.  Why not just deny the UAFs all the FOB cities on the Dnieper by blowing the damns upstream to downstream?  And there's literally more damns in the Western Oblasts.  

The plant is not generating power but still needs water/power supply for cooling for the next few months. To avoid meltdown, and the consequences that would have for Ukraine, "Russia", Russia, and other countries.

Got It.  Apparently, the Rods are protected from Flooding, and system has multiple power sources that are safe from water rise.  Multiple Diesel Generators and Fuel Supplies.  As long as Zelensky doesn't shell it in front of the IAEA again, the Reactor will be fine in the event of prolonged power loss.  

[Hollywood]

The Zap Power Plant would be completely safe cause it was disconnected and safely put off-line.  They literally had to do it, because Zelensky was F-ing shelling it.

Ah yes, it was all Zelenskyy's fault. The Russians are innocent and only wanted to keep the plant safe. They definitely were not shelling it.

https://twitter.com/MacWBishop/status/1565681794602729478

You are so F-ing Crazy that your willing to just give zelensky a pass when it comes to blowing a nuclear power plant.  Per Reuters, Zelensky says he attacked power plant.  He admitted to it after saying he didn't do it, and falsely alleged that he only did it cause Russia was firing artillery from inside the facility.  There are literally videos of rockets coming across the Dneiper before hitting facility.  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-warns-fresh-provocations-shelling-near-occupied-nuclear-plant-2022-08-13/

Then Zelensky changed his story against to allege the Russia were repeatedly firing on their own positions. He kept trying to blow the F-er up, because apparently a propaganda is more important to people like you then actually doing the responsible thing by calling Zelensky out for one of the most serious War Crimes imaginable.  A War Crime with weapons you want to provide him. People like you are the reason I and many other turned against Ukraine.  

Every human being has a duty to put a bullet into their leaders head when they intend to blow-up a nuclear facility just to sell the rest of the World on the idea that mutual-assured destruction is justified.  No.  You're a bad human being.  You can ask 100 people off the street, and 99 would come back with the same conclusion.

[Hollywood]

I never even considered that Russia could just blow-up all those damns along the Dnieper River until Zelensky mentioned it today.  In one swift act, Putin could deny Zelensky his Kherson victory.  The Zap Power Plant would be completely safe cause it was disconnected and safely put off-line.  They literally had to do it, because Zelensky was F-ing shelling it.  Why not just deny the UAFs all the FOB cities on the Dnieper by blowing the damns upstream to downstream?  And there's literally more damns in the Western Oblasts.  

The plant is not generating power but still needs water/power supply for cooling for the next few months. To avoid meltdown, and the consequences that would have for Ukraine, "Russia", Russia, and other countries.

Got It.  Apparently, the Rods are protected from Flooding, and system has multiple power sources that are safe from water rise.  Multiple Diesel Generators and Fuel Supplies.  As long as Zelensky doesn't shell it in front of the IAEA again, the Reactor will be fine in the event of prolonged power loss.  

If the dam is blown up, the water supply in the associated reservoir plummets. Flooding isn’t the main problem here - the lack of water supply for the ZNPP is. Maybe there are alternative sources, but I haven’t read about them. 

You're right.  There's a Crimean Basin that is actually a tributary of Dnieper.  I didn't see it' connection cause it cuts through a narrow piece of land that is surrounded on side by the Sea of Azov and the other by the Black Sea.

[Hollywood]

I hope the sanctions EU is preparing are really crippling on Minsk, as this is state-sponsored crime. I think Merkel is a naive for calling on Putin to negotiate a solution here. The only language Lukashenko understands is strength and determination.

Well good for him, because that's precisely what the EU lacks lol

We've let Turkey's strongman infringe on an EU member's waters, flood them with migrants as a way to extort money, and even publicly humiliate the leader of the EU herself. Which one of those is supposed to scare Lukashenko or Putin?

Putin never did anything like this when Trump was president. They both had respect for each other.

You actually believe this don't you, god bless

To be fair, Trump was FAR less predictable, so this may have had some effect simply because people never know how he'll react.

China and Iran told US Leaders that they were legitimately scared of Donald Trump.  Yes.  Good.  That' is the exact F-ing response Democrats should have wanted to exude from enemy nations.  Instead, the Biden Administration went with the predictable strategy of asking those nations for forgiveness for America electing Trump. Then they left an incredible arsenal of weapons in Afghanistan, because Biden botched the execution when the pushed the withdrawal to September 11 for optics.  It's only now that they've repeatedly pissed on Biden that we are seeing psy-op campaigns in Iran and China meant to undermine the Leaders. It's too late.  
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-top-general-secretly-called-china-twice-trump-term-ended-report-2021-09-14/

[Hollywood]

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1584306192670633984

It is becoming increasingly clear that Russia is actively waging a war of genocide against the Ukrainian people, as I posted a couple minutes ago.

Putin historically has used the dialing up and down of Russian Nationalism for purposes of domestic control, where vast majority of news comes from state run or affiliated media outlets.

Putin let Tigers out of cages, and now Russian Bears are fighting against their own Tigers.

Putin falls does not mean we we will see a "Free Russia", but yet clear that War in Ukraine is unlikely to end while Putin remains in power...

Genocide?  That's a good one.  Nuclear attacks and callbacks to Hitler didn't work, so time to use another buzzword.  You know the opinions on the forum and media are far more radical than the vast majority in the General Public.  I don't what they're going to do to Biden if he launches a war against a nuclear power.  It's just getting bad, and the riots in Europe are already looking pretty gruesome. 

[Hollywood]

Assuming this is not a "fake intercept", Russian motorized forces around Lyman are running out of vehicles and being forces to use scooters and motorcycles...

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1585338570273062912?s=20&t=GdNqG1cn...

It sounds like the Russians are speaking sarcastically about the situation, and the translation from Russian to English removes some context.  R2 is mocking R1 when he hears that they have no military vehicles.  R2 asks, "So to reconstitute the motorized brigade, are you going to find motors to put in bikes and scooters?"  R1 replies, "Yeah yeah yeah", because he knows the other guy is F-ing with him.  He's not answering, "yes, yes, yes". 

I the guy actually posted the link to WarTranslated.com, I'd be able to find out the context.  Most of the recordings come from the Donetsk Militia. 

[Hollywood]

Assuming this is not a "fake intercept", Russian motorized forces around Lyman are running out of vehicles and being forces to use scooters and motorcycles...

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1585338570273062912?s=20&t=GdNqG1cn...

It sounds like the Russians are speaking sarcastically about the situation, and the translation from Russian to English removes some context.  R2 is mocking R1 when he hears that they have no military vehicles.  R2 asks, "So to reconstitute the motorized brigade, are you going to find motors to put in bikes and scooters?"  R1 replies, "Yeah yeah yeah", because he knows the other guy is F-ing with him.  He's not answering, "yes, yes, yes". 

I the guy actually posted the link to WarTranslated.com, I'd be able to find out the context.  Most of the recordings come from the Donetsk Militia. 

Well if what you are saying is true can totally jive with the reality is that the "militia units" from Donbass are basically not only getting screwed over in pay compared to Russian soldiers, but also getting the most s**t equipment etc.. compared to "regular" Russian soldiers.

Seems like the "voluntary" militia from Donbass not too happy when it comes to the perks that Russian "regulars" are getting, while meanwhile the Russian Mobniks are getting totally screwed compared to what the "regular" Russian forces are getting, while meanwhile even "elite" Russian forces are complaining about what they are getting.

Did I get all that right or at least 80% correct???

I think you got it about right.  I don't dispute that the DPR troops are getting screwed with pay and equipment. It's War.  Everyone is unhappy.  Russian Troops are definitely complaining.  It's not like Russian Journalists haven't been disseminated stories about poor Russian equipment, supplies, strategy, etc., but the NATO side tends to over-exaggerate these problems to absurd extents. 

The main problem for Russia is that they didn't invade Ukraine with a large enough force to overwhelm the VSU.  This became a big problem when NATO started repeatedly pumping military aid into the country.  A lot has been said about the number of Russian vehicles destroyed or captured, but the Ukrainians have lost several thousand ground vehicles (Perhaps 6,000), and its pretty obvious from the drone footage I've viewed that they are incurring huge casualties from Russian artillery and aerial bombardments.  Although I've under-estimated the NATO-backed Ukrainian Armies' ability to take on the Russians, I remain unconvinced about the Ukrainian chances of victory if Russia intends to remain in Ukraine for multiple years, sends an appropriate number of soldiers and equipment, and actually goes scorched-Earth.

[Hollywood]

https://twitter.com/cvetko35/status/1585544622297735168?cxt=HHwWgICzud6b_oAsAAAA

cvetko35 seems like a very unreliable source

The twitter post is 100% Accurate.  On a Youtube program that was hosted by Ukrainian Journalist, Mark Feygin, Aleksey Arestovych said the situation was deteriorating for Ukrainian Forces in Kherson.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iop14fjdhm4

Over the past week, Russia was able to easily defend their positions around Kherson from a Ukrainian attack that primarily focused from Kravi-Rogg direction.  They destroyed numerous tanks, armored vehicles, and men.  In contrast to the reports that Russia was planning to evacuate their troops to the east bank of the Dneiper, it now appears that their forces have built strong defensive positions around Kherson.

[Hollywood]

https://twitter.com/cvetko35/status/1585544622297735168?cxt=HHwWgICzud6b_oAsAAAA

cvetko35 seems like a very unreliable source

Watch Mark Feygin and Arestovych's briefing/show

I just posted the link to Feygin's channel, but I doubt it will be useful to anyone that can't speak Ukrainian.  Great Find. 

It's only within the last several hours that detailed battle information, as well as graphic videos and pictures, have been published by the Russians. 

[Hollywood]

To my mind, the most likely way the Ukraine war ends, is when Putin runs out of money to finance it. When he sees that as a looming possibility, he will bend. That entails the West staying the course, to get to that looming possibility. How long is that course? I was wondering and so googled around and found the article below.

One aspect that I had not focused on is that a severe recession means lower oil prices, and thus less money for Putin.

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/putin-can-afford-least-two-more-years-war

A worldwide recession leading to a fall in energy prices is for sure a risk for Putin and a reasonable consequence of his energy brinkmanship with EU.  On the flip side energy prices crashed in 2020 and Russia's fiscal situation was able to survive it.  The crash in energy prices in 2020 was not just the worldwide recession due to COVID-19 but also a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.  This is why Putin is going out of his way to form a united front with Saudi Arabia last few months.  Saudi Arabia's relationship breakdown with USA and now wanting to join BRICS is part of the success of Putin's diplomatic maneuvers.  The USA response to counter this is clear: USA-Canada should go on a massive hydrocarbon new deal to drive world energy prices down on top of the likely fall next year on the back of a certain worldwide recession triggered by inflation crisis in the collective West.     

I'm pretty sure the relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia is irretrievably broken.  Today, I noticed that a propaganda campaign had been launched to disparage Saudi Arabia, and I presume the government, or political party, is behind it.  In addition to articles, I saw television commercials and heard radio ads, attacking Saudi Arabia for restricting women's rights and harming the United States with its oil policy. The television commercial blamed Saudi Arabia for 9/11, and presented images of all the hijackers that originated from the country.

[Hollywood]

Russia moving close to passing their version of "don't say gay" bill...

In this case looks like obviously it targets "gay porn", but from the little snippet below might be so open ended to allow gvt shutdowns on LGBTQ print media as well?

Any insights from Atlas Hive on what this actually means for the LGBTQ+ Community in Russia?

The State Duma "unanimously" adopted in the first reading two bills on "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations." This was reported by the press service of the lower house.

The first project involves fines of up to 10 million rubles and expulsion from the country for foreigners for "disseminating" or "imposing" information "aimed at forming non-traditional sexual attitudes" or "arousing interest in such relationships."

With the second bill, the deputies decided to prescribe the inadmissibility of "materials promoting non-traditional sexual relations" in the legislation regulating advertising, cinema and the work of the media. They also proposed using a special "code" to give adults access to content with "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" on paid streaming services.

https://zona.media/news/2022/10/27/prpgnd

You're extremely uninformed about the Florida Parental Rights Act.  Republicans gained support for the bill by asking people to be review the statute outside of grocery stores, so we could expose the Democrats for lying about the whole 'Don't Say Gay" BS.

I won't make any judgments about the Russian Law until I can read it in English.  I certainly don't trust  the media to provide a summary of the law given their propensity to lie about any legislation related to LGBTQ Rights.       

[Hollywood]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Tendar/status/1585949955843182592

Per Rybar, "From the area of ​​Berestovoye , a reinforced enemy battalion made another attempt to attack Kuzemovka. After the loss of more than 10 armored vehicles, the Armed Forces of Ukraine retreated to their original positions."

The Russians actually gained territory near Kuzemovka, and the Ukrainians have indicated that the Russians have launched an attack to the West of Svatove.  The most interesting section of the Ukrainian offensive along the Zherebets River is located near Torske and Yampil (east Lyman) toward Kremmina. The Ukrainians have attacked and retreated each day from the this directions, but they 6 Battalions ready to launch a large attack. 

[Hollywood]

The most important news of the day appears to be the surprisingly significant Russian advances in the Vuhledar Direction.    The Russians have taken all the high positions along the road from Vuhledar to Marinka, and the Ukrainian defense in Southern Donetsk is at risk of being cut-off from supplies.   
https://rybar.ru/piwigo/upload/2022/10/30/20221030115428-49c32f1b.jpg

[Hollywood]

Amazing Video coming out of Soledar.  The town has been completely destroyed. 
https://rumble.com/v1y3ffc-the-shelling-of-v.s.u.-positions-in-soledar..html

[Hollywood]

Disclaimer: Although after the event, I didn't realize that Zelensky spoke before Congress when I wrote this post. 

Zelensky was publicly scheduled to visit Biden today. He will visit the house of representatives.  IMO, ge needs to speak in the House of Representatives like Bibi Netanyahu did 7 years ago, and plead his case to the American people.  Right now!  Why?  The Russians are currently putting immense pressure on Ukraine.  They are finally looking like a a competent armed force.  They are pushing Ukraine across the entire frontline, and they are slowly adding more troops to their offensive.  The Ukrainians need the US people to go all-in on it's defensive war against Russia.  They need an enormous amount of weapons (hundreds of billions) to stop the growing Russian forces, and the US also has to support the upcoming Polish troops about to enter Ukraine.  

I'm going to throw-out a theory for the forum.  An idea that I've had for some time.  The Ukrainians need NATO to enter the war with Russia.  It might be most prudent for Ukrainians to accept a union with Poland (NATO Country).  If Poland is allowed to annex the remaining parts of Ukraine (some kind of establishment of a 16-1700s Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth), Ukraine becomes a NATO country via Poland, and Russia has to consider a real threat.  It isn't like Poland lacks a claim on these regions given the numerous Polish individuals and minorities that live in the area (Ruthenians, Lithuanians, and sine East Slav Russians). This is the ultimate Military Trump Card. This is how the Ukrainians, and the many Polish fighting, finally and absolutely outmaneuver Russia.  

[Hollywood]

I like in his speech to Congress, Zelensky framed this as a war of independence, which was obviously meant to tie the current conflict to the American War of Independence. He even specifically compared the Battle of Saratoga to the current fighting in Bakhmut, claiming it will be the turning point of the war just like Saratoga was in 1777.  

Oh damn.  Did this already happen?  I've been sitting on this idea for months. 

[Hollywood]

https://mobile.twitter.com/AndrewPerpetua/status/1609539414312591360

Reminds me of

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-03-24/russia-running-out-of-precision-munitions-in-ukraine-war-pentagon-official?src=usn_tw

"Russia Running Out of Precision Munitions in Ukraine War Pentagon Official"

from March 24th.

I've found it pretty ironic how there are so many stories describing the outlandishly fast rate that the Ukrainian Army is going through these weapons, or merely bemoaning the lack of resources continuously replenish their empty stockpiles.  I'm 100% the Ukrainians will be out of weapons in a short amount of time without dipping into critically low NATO stockpile, and I've seen enough video over the course of multiple months to verify the reasonable estimates that Russia has provided in respect to enemy vehicles destroyed.  Just like the Russians early last year, the Ukrainians are losing some of their vehicles in the muddy and slushy terrain of Luhansk. They are so depleted at the moment that they are losing anywhere from 30-120 soldiers trying to push Russian positions in the leaf-less forests near Kreminna.  They really need to slow down!   https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/16/ukraine-weapons-military-aid-stockpiles-nato-low-industry/

Unrelated to your point, I think SirWoodbury's post with the twitter illustration of Russian advance into Dorozhnyanka is extremely interesting.  I disagree with his conclusion that Ukraine currently holds this small settlement given that Ukraine merely had recon forces that were probing the Russian defenses in Polohy while Russia alway retained fire control from higher terrain.  In Polohy, Russia has dug some big trenches, built fortified positions, secured supply lines from the rail station in Tokmak (Ukraine just launched missiles at it today), and even created underground bunkers.  Both Russian and Ukrainian sources seem to believe that Russia will launch an offensive through the lower elevated areas of the Dneiper River Valley in Zaporizhzhia and Southern Donetsk in order to cut-off supplies to Ukrainian positions on the Eastern Front, particularly the positions of artillery shelling Donetsk City.  Place like Huliapole and Veylka Novasilka might be the jumping off points given their fortified positions along some important railroad tracks.  The area plays to the Russian military's advantage of aerial location of enemies and artillery strikes, because they will traversing mostly fields, farming communities, and small settlements.  

[Hollywood]

Today, I've seen some of the most intense fighting since the Lysychansk Offensive, and I can't imagine the death toll on both sides might will be substantial.  Absolutely horrifying videos are accumulating, particularly the Ukrainian strike on a Russian compound in Makiivka.  Preliminary estimates suggest the death toll is 63 and casualties (injuries) over 200, but reports from journalists on the ground suggest the death toll should increase.  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-shells-donetsks-makiivka-hitting-military-quarters-officials-2023-01-01/

In potentially related news, the U.S. military base near the al-Omar oil field in Syria's Deir ez-Zor governorate was attacked with missiles on Friday night, Syrian media has reported.  Some ME outlets have suggested that American soldiers have been killed, and no one has claimed responsibility.  This news follows reports that Turkey intends to invade Russian-aligned Syria in order to create a buffer zone from the Kurdish Nationalist Groups.  https://en.mehrnews.com/news/195539/US-base-in-Syria-s-Deir-ez-Zor-comes-under-missile-attack

[Hollywood]

Let this kill any remaining speculation as to Israel adopting a more pro-Ukrainian stance. It doesn't surprise me for reasons I've previously gone into here - at least humanitarian aid will, allegedly, continue.

https://twitter.com/BarakRavid/status/1609886512694595584
Policy inertia in the US and European states means this is a smart move for Netanyahu. Our governments will not reassess and change our Iran/Israel policies for the better, even though this is long overdue.

This isn't a shocker to me.  Israel can't screw around with Russia given their presence and influence in the region, and doesn't help when Ukraine voted against Israel at the UN in November, and didn't attend in December.  Israel needs to worry about Russian/China allies like Iran and Syria, and Ukraine gains nothing by acting petty.  After the Biden administration's mishandling of Saudi Arabia, John Kerry handing Israeli Intelligence to Iran, rekindle the Nuclear Agreement, and attempts to influence the Israeli Election against Netanyahu with the Lebanon Deal and Media, they cannot rely on the US with Biden at the helm.  They are sitting next to Russian allies, and need to fly through Russian/Syrian Airspace to conduct pre-emptive strikes.  And it's not just Israel.  Brazil is also resuming geopolitical cooperation, particularly economics.  

[Hollywood]

Ukrainian defences collapsed in Soledar after Yakovlivka/Bakhmutske fell. Wagner has now reached one of the city's salt mines. Assaulting other towns to the city's north.

60-70% of Soledar might already be under Russian control.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1611451982425853952?cxt=HHwWgMC8kcnCg90sA...
https://mobile.twitter.com/War_cube_/status/1611456342220328961?cxt=HHwWgsC-kazA...
https://twitter.com/AndrewPerpetua/status/1611430055925936128?cxt=HHwWgMDT_aPG-d...

Looks like the mine is back in Ukrainian hands, for now. Russia claimed Ukraine had (or used to have) a lot of underground positions there, which would have made a lot of sense.

https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1611673984738775046

Since I know where that photo of the Ukrainian Soldier was taken, I'm actually very confident that the Russians have pushed as deep into Soledar as the Andrew Perpetua tweet indicated.  The Soldier is standing right near the Salt Mine Museum on the far west side of the Salt Mine Industrial Complex.  It looks like Russia holds 40-50% of Soledar, but maintains fire control over the majority of the area.  

As opposed to Ukraine launching a large counter-offensive against Russians in Soledar, I think the 46th Airborne was tasked with covering the retreat of the main force by preventing Wagner from capturing the last road out of town. 

[Hollywood]

It's another mine, in the city's north.

Seems more likely it's the same mine, but a different shaft. It's a big mine.

It's a different mine that was decommissioned in 1990, and then it was converted into a museum.  There is a concert hall located within the mine per the link below.  I doubt it's connected to the other mines given the obvious safety issues.
https://stampostage.info/museum-of-the-salt-industry-ukraine-soledar/

[Hollywood]

In the most recent video disseminated by Ukraine regarding the situation for the 46th Brigade in Soledar, the soldier claims to be located in the center of the town, and assert that Ukrainian forces pushed Wagner back towards their previous positions.  I can't help noticing that the reporter in this video is located on the road in the extreme southwestern outskirt of Soledar.  
https://twitter.com/KnabeSanny/status/1611765861010018304

Seems pretty obvious to me that whatever counter-attack the Ukrainians managed to launch last night helped to slow down the Russian advance through the Salt Industrial Complex and the Downtown Areas. However, Russian Forces have begun pushing around the the northern and southern outskirts (fields) of Soledar, and they look extremely close to attaining total fire control around the entire town.  
https://twitter.com/Suriyakmaps/status/1611755701856092163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7...