Following months of brutal assaults spearheaded by Russia's Wagner mercenary troops, Ukraine's military claims to have stabilized the beleaguered eastern city of Bakhmut.
Ukraine Claims Battle For Bakhmut Is 'Stabilizing' As Russian Forces Stall
- By RFE/RL
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A Ukrainian T-72 tank fires at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut on March 26.
A day earlier, Ukraine's top military commander, Valeriy Zaluzhniy, said that the situation in and around Bakhmut had "stabilized" despite Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner group leading the assault to capture the ruined city.
A day earlier, Ukraine's top military commander, Valeriy Zaluzhniy, said that the situation in and around Bakhmut had "stabilized" despite Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner group leading the assault to capture the ruined city.
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Located astride two major crossroads, Bakhmut, which had a prewar population of 70,000, has been almost completely destroyed during intense fighting.
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Ukrainian soldiers sit in a trench along the front line.
Russian forces and mercenaries have been unable to encircle the outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian defenders.
Russian forces and mercenaries have been unable to encircle the outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian defenders.
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Ukrainian soldiers at the front ride atop an APC.
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Ukrainian Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters take off for a mission against Russian targets.
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Ukrainian soldiers fire a mortar at Russian positions.
The battle for Bakhmut has been called the "meat grinder" due to the violent and bloody artillery duels and infantry assaults.
The battle for Bakhmut has been called the "meat grinder" due to the violent and bloody artillery duels and infantry assaults.
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A Ukrainian soldier rests in a shelter along the front line.
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A partially burned prayer book is held by a Ukrainian soldier in a shelter.
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A Ukrainian soldier of the 28th Brigade maintains his position near the front on March 24.
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A Ukrainian soldier of the 28th Brigade fires a grenade toward Russian positions.
Russia, which refers to Bakhmut by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk, says that capturing the city is vital to completing the capture of the Donbas industrial region, one of its main war goals.
Russia, which refers to Bakhmut by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk, says that capturing the city is vital to completing the capture of the Donbas industrial region, one of its main war goals.
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A wounded Ukrainian soldier flashes the victory sign as he is being carried away from the front.
Despite heavy losses, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said on March 27 that defending Bakhmut was a "military necessity," as he praised his forces resilience in "extremely difficult conditions."
Despite heavy losses, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said on March 27 that defending Bakhmut was a "military necessity," as he praised his forces resilience in "extremely difficult conditions."
