Russian troops and mercenaries were closing off the last access routes to the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on Friday, on the cusp of Moscow's first major victory in half a year after the bloodiest fighting of the war.
Ukraine recaptured swathes of territory in the second half of 2022 but its forces have been on the defensive for three months. It says the city has little strategic value but that the huge losses there could determine the course of the war.
The camera panned to show three captured Ukrainians - a grey-bearded older man and two boys - asking to be allowed to go home. From visible buildings, Reuters determined the footage was filmed in Paraskoviivka, a village 7 km north of the centre of Bakhmut. "They take no account of their losses in trying to take the city by assault. The task of our forces in Bakhmut is to inflict as many losses on the enemy as possible. Every metre of Ukrainian land costs hundreds of lives to the enemy," he said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was due to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss additional military aid to Ukraine. Asked by reporters whether potential sanctions against China would be a topic for Biden and Scholz, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said "the issue of a third party support to Russia could come up."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
After months of pounding, Ukrainian official says military may pull back from BakhmutUkraine’s military could pull back from the eastern stronghold of Bakhmut amid a prolonged Russian offensive to take the city, a top official says.
Read more »
Russian mercenary boss publishes video showing fighters inside Ukraine's BakhmutThe founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary force on Thursday published a video showing his fighters inside Bakhmut, the small Ukrainian city Wagner has been fighting to capture for months.
Read more »
Russian mercenary boss says Bakhmut effectively surroundedUkrainian forces clinging to the eastern city of Bakhmut dug new trenches in an attempt to hold back Russian attackers, as the U.S. said new military aid for Ukraine would be discussed at a meeting with Germany's leader on Friday
Read more »
Russian mercenary chief says Ukraine's Bakhmut is practically surroundedYevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, said in a video published on Friday that the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was 'practically surrounded' by his forces and that Kyiv's forces had only one road left out.
Read more »
Putin-Hyped ‘Ukrainian Terror Attack’ Was Led by RussianRussian propaganda outlets claim Ukrainians took hostages on Russian territory. But a Russian nationalist was reportedly at the center of the chaos.
Read more »