Soledar and Bakhmut Nearby Bakhmut was shelled on 17 May 2022, and the surrounding area came under shellfire the following months, culminating in the battle for Bakhmut. On 1 August 2022, Russian forces launched attacks on Bakhmut and the settlements south and southeast of it. As part of a winter escalation in late December 2022, the Russians launched an offensive to capture the Soledar - Bakhmut region, a strategic target because of its position in Donetsk Oblast. On 11–16 January 2023, Russian forces were reported to have captured Soledar. With the capture of Sil, a village some 6 kilometers from Paraskoviivka, the railway line was cut off. On 24 January 2023, fighting reached Paraskoviivka, which had been almost completely encircled. Nearby Krasna Hora had also come under heavy attack. Ukrainian forces were reported to have repelled several attacks in the area that day, but were under heavy pressure. Battle and Siege of Paraskoviivka (2023) First Offensive/Attacks & Battle into Paraskoviivka (15 January 2023 - 29 January 2023) On 14 January 2023, Russian forces were reported to have pushed south of Soledar and engaged at Blahodatne to block the key Donets Railway stations in Bakhmut and Paraskoviivka, contributing to the siege in the city later on. Blahodatne was captured between 31 January and 2 February by Russian forces. Due to the large push against the settlement 1 person died on January 14. Large advances and casualties (16 January 2023 - 31 January 2023) After the fall of Soledar on 16 January 2023 attempts to push even further were successful, with the captures of Blahodatne and Krasnopolivka. This resulted in pushes around and within Bakhmut, which includes Krasna Hora and Paraskoviivka creating a front between both. By 18 January 2023, Krasna Hora was under fire control by Russian forces and they had pushed cross the highway, trying to push from Pidhorodne. By 23 January 2023, they had managed to reach the Bakhmutka River border of Paraskoviivka and had reached the outskirts of Paraskoviivka, nearly inside of it. They were also reported to have killed one civilian inside the city. Right the next day the Russians were reported to have established fire control over southeastern Paraskoviivka. Small advances continued on around the area between 25–29 January 2023, with 3 civilians dying on 27 January 2023 due to attacks, 1 dying on 28 January 2023 and another attack on 29 January 2023 left 1