Trenches, Mud, And Death: Ukraine Holds On In Bakhmut

A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar toward Russian positions near Bakhmut on March 16.

Moscow's forces, led by the Wagner private military group, have nearly encircled Ukrainian troops as they hold onto the western part of the city in the Donbas.

A Ukrainian soldier listens to artillery fire. Bakhmut has endured months of shelling.

Russia, which refers to the city by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk, says capturing Bakhmut will allow it to launch more offensives deeper into Ukrainian territory.

As the sounds of artillery rumble above, Ukrainian soldiers rest in their dugout.

The personal belongings of a Ukrainian soldier.

The soldiers are expected to locate -- often with the aid of drones -- and then fire at Russian forces before heading back to their dugouts.

There have been waves of Russian assaults and high rates of casualties on both sides.

Ukrainian military said on March 17 that they had repelled yet another series of Russian assaults on Bakhmut.