The head of Russia's Wagner Group private army, speaking in a video recorded some four miles north of Bakhmut, said the city, which has been blasted to ruins, was now almost completely surrounded with only one road still open for Ukraine's troops.
Ukraine says the city has little intrinsic strategic value but that the huge losses there could determine the course of the war. It recaptured swathes of territory in the second half of 2022 but its forces have now been on the defensive for three months.
Intense Russian shelling of routes leading out of Bakhmut appeared aimed at blocking Ukrainian forces' access in and out of the city. Ukrainian soldiers were working to repair damaged roads and more troops were heading towards the frontline in a sign that Ukraine was not yet ready to give up. To the west, Ukrainians were digging new trenches for defensive positions.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 04, 2023-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 04, 2023-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Is Nadal in Paris the most dominant athlete in history?
Few athletes receive the honour of having a statue built for them at the end of their careers.
Klopp leaves an overflowing in-tray for Slot at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp offered one last example of his skills as a motivator. He has proved time and again he can galvanise 11 people.
Rashford axed as Southgate calls up new faces to squad
Five uncapped players in frame for England's Euros bid
Pochettino leaves Chelsea after one season in charge
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea yesterday, just two days after the end of his first season in charge of the southwest London club.
Used car sales app Cazoo calls in the administrators
Online car seller Cazoo has gone into administration, three years after it listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a valuation of £5bn ($6.3bn).
Costner's new epic proves he is Hollywood's outlaw
The first part of a four-film saga by the 'Dances with Wolves' star isn't going down well at Cannes, but his recent TV series shows we can't underestimate his appeal, says Louis Chilton
No plot, all atmosphere...meet the 21st-century novel
Yael van der Wouden's hyped debut 'The Safekeep' has been compared to Patricia Highsmith and Sarah Waters. But the lack of narrative thrust is a problem, says Robert McCrum
Dreams have no deadlines
As a 90-year-old astronaut blasts into space and a man in his sixties becomes a modelling sensation, Helen Coffey finds that living life to its fullest is not just for young people
Are airfares rising or not?
Q I’m extremely confused. My experience as a frequent holidaymaker is that prices are rising inexorably. But now Ryanair is saying it doesn’t expect airfares to go up much, if at all. What’s your take?
'Nature is unfair, but it does offer some great remedies'
Taking over from the rakish Jeffrey Bernard, Jeremy Clarke wrote the Low Life column in 'The Spectator' for 20 years until his death from cancer in 2023. His witty account of his battle with the disease, The Final Years, is extracted here
