Soledar

Soledar, originally known as Brіantsіvka, was established by Don Cossacks in the second half of the 17th century. Industrial salt mining commenced in 1881 when the area was part of the Russian Empire, leading to significant population growth as workers settled in the region.

In 1925, the village was renamed Karlo-Libknekhtovsk in honor of German socialist Karl Liebknecht. The settlement experienced occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II, followed by liberation by the Soviet Red Army in September 1943. The village was granted city status in 1965 and was renamed Soledar in July 1991, reflecting its salt mining heritage.

In February 2014, following the Euromaidan protests, Soledar fell under the control of pro-Russian rebels for a brief period before being retaken by Ukrainian forces in July 2014. However, the war led to a significant population decline, with the population dropping from 14,600 in 1971 to 10,490 by early 2022.

During the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Soledar was subjected to intense shelling and was reported to be 90 percent destroyed by August 2022. The city was captured by Russian forces on January 11, 2023, after heavy fighting, leaving it in ruins and nearly uninhabited.

Soledar is located in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, approximately 18 km from Bakhmut. The city was known for its extensive salt mines, operated by the Artemsil company, which was the largest salt mine in Europe. The mine ceased operations in May 2022 due to the ongoing conflict.

Prior to the war, Soledar's salt mines attracted tourism, featuring underground tours and therapeutic facilities. However, these activities have been severely disrupted by the conflict.

The Soledar salt mine housed the Artyomovsk Scintillation Detector, established in November 1977 for neutrino radiation detection. A proposal to use the mines for nuclear waste disposal was met with local opposition and was ultimately dismissed by regional authorities.