 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.