Fighting back against Russian attacks in a “world’s end” city during the Ukraine war
“I’ve never seen a more difficult procedure than this one. The adversary has launched its heaviest assault against Bakhmut. Never before have we seen troops like this “The commander in Ukraine informs us.
From an underground room off a mundane street, Commander Skala, as he prefers to be called, is in charge of the Ukrainian operation defending the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donbas. Few journalists have visited this location, which is one of the primary command centers the Ukrainian military has established in the city.
A giant screen in the middle of the room is where the tall, hefty man with the glittering eyes is watching a live feed from a drone that is flying beyond the eastern limit of the city.
One of the battalion’s troops is attempting to locate Russian positions in order to assist another unit that has just left to defend Bakhmut’s eastern approaches against attack.
Thousands of mercenaries from the private paramilitary Wagner group have also been dispatched to the front lines near Bakhmut in addition to Russian military forces.
In Bakhmut, Commander Skala is in charge from a subterranean command center.
“Even though their platoon of 60 soldiers is down to just 20, the Wagner warriors march brazenly in our direction while being shot at. It’s incredibly challenging to resist such an onslaught. We’re learning now that we weren’t ready for that “says Commander Skala.
“We recently lost positions on the eastern approaches to the city as a result of the enemy’s relentless assaults against us. To save our soldiers, we shifted to a secondary front line “He says.
“We’re making an intelligent effort to reclaim those places. To adequately engage the opponent, you occasionally need to retreat.”
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner, claimed that Ukrainians had transformed each home in Bakhmut into a fortification and that there were now “500 lines of defense.”
After losing ground in Ukraine in recent months, including being driven out of Kherson in the south and the Kharkiv area in the north-east, Russia has been using all of its strength to try to seize Bakhmut. This struggle is seen as crucial for the country. In order to further Russia’s goal of controlling the entirety of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, Bakhmut’s capture is also crucial.
All around Bakhmut, bombs have torn through building facades.
Explosions from above can be heard throughout our talk with Commander Skala as they are muted. As soon as you step outdoors, you may hear the terrible whistle of approaching shells and the audible roar of the impact, which will make your heart race.
Additionally, the sound of the falling bombs never ceases.
There are times when it truly does feel like “the end of the world,” as one local put it.
Bombs have torn through apartment complexes, destroyed building facades, and left craters by the sides of streets. There weren’t many unbroken windows in Bakhmut. Debris and shattered glass are all over the ground.
This was previously a sleepy, commonplace eastern town famous for its sparkling wine. It’s now associated with conflict and Ukraine’s resistance.
Although it is located at an important crossing, the conflict here has taken on symbolic significance throughout the months. It has recently been referred to as the “bulwark of our spirit” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Before the conflict, there were slightly over 70,000 residents of Bakhmut. Only 10% of its original population is still there, largely the elderly or the destitute.
We saw dozens of civilians in a “resilience center,” an aid facility, even though the streets are mainly deserted.
It has electricity and Wi-Fi from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network. Small packages of food, medications, and other necessities are distributed by volunteers. The space is kept warm by a wood-burning stove in the middle.
The inhabitants of Bakhmut have a lifeline in this.
The city’s remaining residents can charge their phones and stay warm thanks to this resilience center.
Many people crowd together to charge their phones while they sit close to electrical outlets.
People don’t flinch even when shells land within a few hundred meters from the center, which is astounding. They appear to have lost all feeling after years of avoiding explosives.
We questioned One resident, who was waiting in line for meals, why don’t you go.
“There is nowhere I can go. It’s just me. Who would want to go with someone who is 86? “asked he. “I occasionally find food or soup that soldiers have thrown out here and consume it. I also receive free bread. I have never witnessed something like this in my entire life. My house has had every window blown out, and the gate has been completely demolished.”
Different people stay for different reasons. Diana, a 13-year-old girl, sits in the corner of the room with her mother.
“I believe that all areas of Ukraine are equally unsafe. Our neighbors left and passed away in other places. A house can be seen here. We have both dogs and cats. We cannot abandon them “She spoke.
“The garage has nine holes, and our roof has 21. Every time, I try to fix them and also fix the windows. The holes are typically created by shrapnel, but recently, stones have also been flying in, creating holes the size of a head.”
“Living like mice, we. We dash outside hastily to get some bread and take several routes back to the house. I seek for logs and wooden boards before dawn to restore my house. Due to the lack of a water supply in the town, I hunt for water in the evening “An individual said
“It’s undoubtedly disturbing. The way we do things now, though, is more military-style. We jokingly remark that in comparison to us, master chefs know nothing about cooking. On an open fire or even a candle, we may prepare food using anything.”
The local government is attempting to persuade residents to leave.
We met Oleksiy Reva, the mayor of Bakhmut for 33 years, in a part of the city we can’t name for fear of endangering his safety.
“Individuals who are staying are those who don’t have money and don’t want to face the future. However, we are discussing it with them. Because safety, peace, and security are paramount, “added he.
We questioned him about why he was still there. “This is my destiny, my life, and my work. I was born and raised in this place. They are buried here, my parents. My conscience forbids me from abandoning our people. And I have faith that our troops will prevent Bakhmut from falling.”
We witness the daily toil necessary to maintain control of it on the fields outside of the city.
To enable Ukrainian infantry to advance each day, the unit of soldiers we encounter searches for Russian positions and fires artillery—Soviet-era D-30 guns—in their direction. However, very little progress is being done.
“The technology is dated. It does the job and functions properly, but it could be improved. In order to avoid running out of ammunition, we must also be extremely efficient with our shells and precise with our targets. Our infantry would have it lot easier if we had more tools and more advanced weapons since we could take out more targets” one of the soldiers, stated.
Winter complicates matters further. They warn us that in cold weather, weapons don’t function as well.
Ukrainian military claim to be concerned about running out of ammo and antiquated equipment.
We simply have to get through this phase, hold on, and then launch counteroffensives and engage in combat.
Both sides are attempting to exhaust the other. This is an endurance race.
