Russia has continued its relentless attack around the city of Bahmut.
Pauli Lahti,
Alina Mäkynen
15:46•Updated 16:30
BAHMUT/HELSINKI The sight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bahmut is inconsolable.
Since August, Russia has been trying to take over the city in the Donetsk region and bombarded the city back to the Stone Age.
The attacks have continued to be fierce for the past few days. Russia controls the eastern side of Bahmut, from where it constantly fires at civilian targets in the city.
Before the war, Bahmut had a population roughly the size of Hämeenlinna. Now, of the city’s approximately 70,000 inhabitants, there are a couple of thousand left, according to estimates.
Others have left the deadly city.
There are many reasons for staying. Some believe in Russian propaganda, according to which the firing in the city is caused by Ukraine. Others do not see a future for themselves elsewhere than in their hometown.
Such is the case, for example, of those who appear under their first name Vladimir’s situation.
– How will I manage with my 65 euro pension if I leave? Where can I get help? And what about me then? the man asks.
ISW: Wagner forces fight in Bahmut
In recent weeks, the fiercest ground battles of the war have taken place around Bahmut.
Russia is still tying up a significant number of its forces around the city, but Ukraine has managed to hold its line, US think tank ISW (you will switch to another service) says based on his anonymous source.
In addition to Russian troops, the country’s faded soldiers of the Wagner mercenary army are fighting in the area. According to ISW, the Wagner forces are largely responsible for Russia’s aggressive offensive operations in the vicinity of Bahmut.
Russia stubbornly sticks to its offensive, in which it has experienced heavy losses. According to experts, the battles in the direction of Bahmut are about transport connections and the original goal of the Russian war to take control of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.
Badly destroyed Bahmut’s future looks really bad even in the best case scenario, and the locals know it too.
– Even if I were killed here, at least I would be buried in my hometown, Vladimir says.