8 hours ago:
The Guardian UK: Russia-Ukraine war live: Ukraine struggling to hold Bakhmut
Even Zelensky is now admitting that the situation for his Army is "extremely acute".Bakhmut has largely been pulverised by repeated Russian attacks.
“The Russians are destroying anything that can be used for cover,” said one source. “The Ukrainian forces don’t have enough artillery.”
The risk of Bakhmut being encircled was said to be growing, with Ukraine’s army facing shortages of artillery that could hold back the advancing Russian forces.
4 hours ago:
International Development News: Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Situation at front 'extremely acute', Zelenskiy says
* President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the situation at the front as "extremely acute", particularly in the eastern Donetsk region where Russia is stepping up an offensive.
* Zelenskiy reported major battles for Vuhledar, to the southwest of Donetsk's regional capital, and Bakhmut, to the northeast. Bakhmut has largely been pulverized by repeated Russian attacks.
The Financial Times sums it up as: Hell. Probably the most accurate description by anyone.
‘Hell. Just hell’: Ukraine and Russia’s war of attrition over Bakhmut
But with the fighting reminiscent of trench warfare, the city is experiencing an unparalleled level of death and destruction. Ukrainian fighters say it is a ghost town on its way to becoming a wasteland like nearby Izyum and the southern port city of Mariupol before it.Once boasting a population of more than 70,000 and famous for its salt mines and sparkling wine factory, much of the city has been reduced to rubble after six months of air strikes and heavy artillery attacks. Fewer than 7,000 residents remain and they subsist mostly on humanitarian assistance. There is no power, water, gas or heating.
The city centre, which once bustled with a large outdoor market and cafés, is a fortress, with “hedgehog” angled metal bars and other anti-tank defences blocking the main avenues.
The only traffic is ambulances racing the wounded to medical points and tanks and other military vehicles trundling along chewed-up roads and through tangles of fallen electric tram lines.
Ukrainian soldier adds wood to fire to try to stay warm.
