Wikipedia
Soledar is a city in Bakhmut municipality, Donetsk Oblast ( province) of Ukraine. Population: . In 2001, the population was 13,151. The name of the town stands for 'gift of salt' both in Russian and Ukrainian. In Soviet times, until 1991, the city was known as Karlo-Libknekhtivsk , named after Karl Liebknecht. The main enterprises of the city are related to mining and processing industries: State Enterprise Association Artyomsol is mining and processing rock salt and Knauf Gips Donbass (a subsidiary of a German gypsum producer KNAUF). The first settlement in the area of the town appeared not later than in 1881, with the start of commercial salt production.
The town has a major tourist attraction: the underground galleries and chambers of salt mines, which are also used extensively for speleo ( cave) treatment of asthma and other lung diseases.
Starting Mid-April 2014 pro-Russian separatists captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast; including Soledar. On 21 July 2014, Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the city from the pro-Russian separatists. On 2 August 2014 the identification team and OSCE observers dealing with the MH17 crash set up base in Soledar, because from there it was easier to get to the crash site.