![]() It was also host to the first-ever underground hot air balloon flight, as listed in the Guinness Book of Records. In September 2020, the same chamber was also used for a soccer (football) match. In 20, a cave was repurposed to host classical music concerts by the Donetsk Symphony Orchestra underground. There are guided tours as deep as 200–300 metres (660–980 ft), with attractions including sculptures made of salt crystals. Soledar's long history of mining has created an "underground city" of tunnels that Deutsche Welle described as a "magnet for tourists". ĭenis Pushilin, head of the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic quasi-state, said during a visit to Soledar in late January 2023 that the salt mines remained damaged and difficult to descend into. Thus, the Ukrainians were forced to step back to the west of Soledar, putting much of the Soledar Salt Mine under Russian control. At the same time, Russian forces north and south of Soledar made large advances over the countryside to the roads, threatening encirclement of the central parts of Soledar. However, between 11 and 13 January 2023, major Russian offensives towards the central part of Soledar made large progress. On 10 January 2023, pro-Russian outlets, including Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed the mines were largely occupied by Russian and Wagner Forces, although these reports were not independently verified. ![]() Russian invasion of Ukraine ĭuring the Battle of Soledar on 5 January 2023, the Wagner Group and Russian Armed Forces took parts of Soledar's east, forcing the Armed Forces of Ukraine to step back and take up defences further west and in the central parts of Soledar. The mining of salt started in the town of Soledar in the 19th century. The temperature underground is constant at 14–15 ☌, with 14.93 PSI air pressure and 60% humidity regardless of the time of the year, giving rise to claims of healing properties for lung conditions. There are accommodation areas in the chambers and even a church. The largest resembles a hangar of about 100 m (330 ft) length and 40 m (130 ft) width and height, and has accommodated soccer matches and the inflation of a hot air balloon. The scale of the mines is vast, with 125 mi (201 km) of tunnels at a depth of 288 m (945 ft), and many of the chambers are 30 m (98 ft) in height. The Soledar Salt Mines (also called Artemsil Salt Mines after the State Enterprise Association Artemsil that operates the mines) are located in the city/suburb of Soledar in the Bakhmut Raion in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, which is controlled by Russia since the Battle of Soledar.
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