Russian fight for Bakhmut continues amid Orthodox Christmas celebrations
BAKHMUT, Ukraine - As a Russian ceasefire falters, Ukrainian forces are determined to protect the city of Bakhmut though most of its population has fled.
Following continous fighting in Bakhmut, 90 percent of the population has fled the city, and those who remain refuse to leave despite the hardships they face to find food to eat.
Several locals told Rudaw that their houses have been destroyed and that they have not received their pensions for a month. Most of them pose the same questions, asking where they should head to if this city is their home.
They decry that they faced severe gas and electricity shortages in May, rendering daily life extremely difficult.
The fighting for the control of Bakhmut by the Russian army continues. Ukraine has deployed more troops in the city as well as in other areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Bakhmut is located in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. After the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson and several other towns and villages in eastern and southern Ukraine, the control of Bakhmut represents a potentially important achievement for Russian forces.
The majority of the population in these areas is made up of ethnic Russians who chose to also breakaway from Ukraine, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Donbas, leading up to the invasion of Ukraine three days later.
Russia on Thursday announced a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian frontline due to the Russian Orthodox Christmas, starting from early Friday, but the truce was rejected by Kyiv which called it a “propaganda gesture”.
Cameraman: Ahmed Omar
Following continous fighting in Bakhmut, 90 percent of the population has fled the city, and those who remain refuse to leave despite the hardships they face to find food to eat.
Several locals told Rudaw that their houses have been destroyed and that they have not received their pensions for a month. Most of them pose the same questions, asking where they should head to if this city is their home.
They decry that they faced severe gas and electricity shortages in May, rendering daily life extremely difficult.
The fighting for the control of Bakhmut by the Russian army continues. Ukraine has deployed more troops in the city as well as in other areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Bakhmut is located in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. After the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson and several other towns and villages in eastern and southern Ukraine, the control of Bakhmut represents a potentially important achievement for Russian forces.
The majority of the population in these areas is made up of ethnic Russians who chose to also breakaway from Ukraine, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Donbas, leading up to the invasion of Ukraine three days later.
Russia on Thursday announced a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian frontline due to the Russian Orthodox Christmas, starting from early Friday, but the truce was rejected by Kyiv which called it a “propaganda gesture”.
Cameraman: Ahmed Omar