Russian units and the Ukrainian army have been fighting for months around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. A video clip by reporters from the AFP news agency now provides insight into a command room where Ukrainian army personnel monitor events in and around the city using images broadcast by drones (see video).
The impact of artillery can be heard in the distance as thunder, and clouds of smoke can be seen over Bakhmut. In a command room, Ukrainian officer Ivan Tusovsky monitors the city from the air using a squadron of drones and observes an artillery strike by his troops in real time.
“A group of enemy soldiers is hiding here. We shot at them with artillery. I’m pretty sure we took out a group of enemies,” Tusovsky described to AFP staffers what happened near the front line.
Photos show the extent of the devastation
The fighting in Ukraine has been concentrated in the Donbass in the east of the country for several months now. Particular attention is paid to the city of Bachmut, where about 70,000 people lived before the war. The broadcast drone images show the appalling extent of the devastation.
“The Russian tactics are completely absurd. They use people as cannon fodder, neglect them and also shoot at them. There is heavy artillery fire. They have huge amounts of artillery ammunition. And they shoot at everything – at civilians, at the military, at themselves. This is the current situation in Bakhmut,” Officer Tusovsky said.
Massive losses on both sides
Russian fighters now claim to control most of the city. However, the Ukrainian armed forces continue to put up fierce resistance and fight for every house. There are heavy losses on both sides.
City has a high symbolic significance
The Battle of Bakhmut is the longest running of the years long Russian offensive in Ukraine. The town has been largely destroyed and abandoned after months of fighting. Given the fighting that has been going on for months with heavy casualties on both sides, the city has now acquired a high symbolic importance.
Conquest would be Russian prestige success
The capture of Bakhmut would be Russia’s first capture of a Ukrainian city in many months. But the leadership in Kiev does not want to leave this success to Moscow. So holding this city also has a symbolic and ideological meaning for the Ukrainian side…
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
