Russian forces are escalating their onslaught against Ukrainian positions around the wrecked eastern city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian officials said, bringing new levels of death and devastation in the months-long conflict.

“Everything is completely destroyed, there is almost no life left,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the scene around Bakhmut and the nearby town of Soledar.

Deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said Russia has thrown “a large number of storm groups” into the battle.

Russian troops alongside soldiers from the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor, have advanced in recent days in Soledar and “are likely in control of most of the settlement”, the UK’s Ministry of Defence tweeted.

It said that taking Soledar, six miles north of Bakhmut, is likely Moscow’s immediate military objective and part of a strategy to encircle Bakhmut.

But it added that “Ukrainian forces maintain stable defensive lines in depth and control over supply routes” in the area.

An exceptional feature of the fighting near Bakhmut is that some of it has been around entrances to disused salt mine tunnels which run for 120 miles underneath the area, the British intelligence report noted.

Russia’s grinding eastern offensive captured almost all of Luhansk during the summer. Donetsk escaped the same fate and the Russian military subsequently poured manpower and resources around Bakhmut.

After Ukrainian forces recaptured the southern city of Kherson last November, the battle heated up around Bakhmut.

Taking Bakhmut would disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines and open a route for Russian forces to press on toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk.

Like Mariupol and other contested cities, Bakhmut has endured a long siege, spending weeks without water and power even before Moscow launched massive strikes to take out public utilities across Ukraine.

The Donetsk region’s governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, estimated more than two months ago that 90% of Bakhmut’s pre-war population of over 70,000 had fled since Moscow focused on seizing the entire Donbas.

NPFLADMIN:
Nobody wins in a war. Both Russia and Ukraine have lost this war
.
The number of lives lost all because two idiots who aren't ready to put thier ego down can't be counted

saxywale2:
The War is almost one year old. February 19th, 2023 is the anniversary.

From I can take Kyiv in 2 weeks if I want.

NPFLADMIN:
Nobody wins in a war. Both Russia and Ukraine have lost this war
.
The number of lives lost all because two idiots who aren't ready to put their ego down can't be counted

bassdow:


Guess you haven't been in position to make decisions.

There was agreement signed since 2014 but Ukraine + the WEST went against it.

If you're a LandLord and the owner of the next compound keeps encroaching onto your own land, how long would you keep mute before doing something about it, especially since you have tried all gentle ways to put and end to it.

It's very clear Ukraine is taking so much more heat than Russia is. Despite all the Truths the WEST tells us, they said the recent attack that killed 89 soldiers (as claimed by Russia) is one of the biggest devastating hits Russia has gotten since start of this conflict. Seems the WEST don't keep track of their Truths.

lhordspy:
I think we are about to have a Mariupol 2.0 in the case of this Bakhmurt.

Ukranian soldiers better run out of the region now before it is too late. Once Russia encircle them, the missile pounding will start just like in Azovstal steel plant, Mariupol.

The only thing is that i dont think Russia will accept any form of Surrender from Ukraine troops this time.

lhordspy:
I think we are about to have a Mariupol 2.0 in the case of this Bakhmurt.

Ukranian soldiers better run out of the region now before it is too late. Once Russia encircle them, the missile pounding will start just like in Azovstal steel plant, Mariupol.

The only thing is that i dont think Russia will accept any form of Surrender from Ukraine troops this time.

kollinz1234:
Russia has still not won the war?
Bakhmut with a pre-war population of just 70,000 population is taking a 2nd or 3rd most powerful nation on earth two months to take

My friend, your blind devotion to the mad king (Putin) is underestimating your thinking capabilities

Pierocash:
Op stop posting this, FERNANDEZISBACK won't agree with you.

Ukraine is winning according to him

kollinz1234:
Russia has still not won the war?
Bakhmut with a pre-war population of just 70,000 population is taking a 2nd or 3rd most powerful nation on earth two months to take

My friend, your blind devotion to the mad king (Putin) is underestimating your thinking capabilities

NPFLADMIN:

.
.
.
So the only solution is to kill millions of pfople0who don't give a shit abt d war?

DerrickzB:


From 2014-2022 is how many years?? That’s how long NATO spearheaded by america has been training and arming Ukraine!!! You should realize how much lands Ukraine has lost to russia and how many soldiers they have lost!!

And just so you know, Russia didn’t declare war, it’s a SMO!! 10% or less of Russia military might is combating the whole Ukraine’s army, thousands of mercenaries, and NATO!!!

If after this you still argue that Russia is weak, continue!!!

lecowas:
Many parts of Ukraine have been decimated and even Russians are fleeing their country for Dubai. It will be absolutely ridiculous for anyone to think a party is winning right now.

The fact that Russia turned to Iran for weapons and deployment of "non willing reservist" speaks volume.

The Arab nations supporting Putin are now seeing him for how desperate he can go to achieve his dreams. Once Iran lays its hands on Russian hypersonic technology, Then non of them will be spared.

saxywale2:
The War is almost one year old. February 19th, 2023 is the anniversary.

From I can take Kyiv in 2 weeks if I want.

bassdow:


Wonder where you got this information of yours.

Russia never begged for weapons. Hopefully you're aware Russia is either the (2nd) Largest Weapons manufacturer and trader in the entire world.

Yea they might have imported Drones from Iran (even US imports somethings) but even Russia have repeated said the last Drones they imported was way before the start of this conflict.

And recently, even Russia has added Drones to list of things they manufacture .

Abeg if una dey spread una truths, abeg make una remember say no be dummy other people be.

Once again, if USA + EU + NATO with all their might + resources can't directly attack Russia, e get Y

bassdow:


To make matters worse, Russia wasn't even prepared for any of this. reason many of us thought they would have given up.

But for Putin to say NATO & the WEST helping Ukraine would not change the outCome, but only prolong the conflict made me realize either Putin was just speaking, or was super sure of themselves.

NPFLADMIN:
Nobody wins in a war. Both Russia and Ukraine have lost this war
.
The number of lives lost all because two idiots who aren't ready to put thier ego down can't be counted

DerrickzB:


From 2014-2022 is how many years?? That’s how long NATO spearheaded by america has been training and arming Ukraine!!! You should realize how much lands Ukraine has lost to russia and how many soldiers they have lost!!

And just so you know, Russia didn’t declare war, it’s a SMO!! 10% or less of Russia military might is combating the whole Ukraine’s army, thousands of mercenaries, and NATO!!!

If after this you still argue that Russia is weak, continue!!!

DerrickzB:


From 2014-2022 is how many years?? That’s how long NATO spearheaded by america has been training and arming Ukraine!!! You should realize how much lands Ukraine has lost to russia and how many soldiers they have lost!!

And just so you know, Russia didn’t declare war, it’s a SMO!! 10% or less of Russia military might is combating the whole Ukraine’s army, thousands of mercenaries, and NATO!!!

If after this you still argue that Russia is weak, continue!!!

Regex:


Na you weh no understand the English. He said "I can take Kyiv if I want" and not "I will take Kyiv", English weh your masters teach you still you no learn.