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Tuesday, December 24, 2024
WorldLong, bloody battle unfolds in Bakhmut

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Long, bloody battle unfolds in Bakhmut

The city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine is once again at the center of conflicting claims and counter-claims.

The city has been at the heart of fierce fighting for many months – experiencing the longest and bloodiest battle of the Russian invasion so far.

Military analysts have suggested the city is of little strategic value – but control of the former mining hub has become important symbolically both for Kyiv and Moscow.

There is little of Bakhmut still standing – after heavy shelling devastated the city’s buildings and drove out its residents – but the Russian mercenary group Wagner claimed to have captured what remained of it late last month.

In recent weeks, some have suggested Kyiv’s forces have been attempting to encircle Bakhmut and trap Russian units. Military activity in the area has stepped up significantly over the last few days.

Ukrainian offensives near Bakhmut unsuccessful – Russia

As has been typical of the battle for Bakhmut so far, both sides have claimed victory in offensives around the devastated city in eastern Ukraine.

While the Ukrainians say they’ve made advances of up to 1.1km (0.7 miles) in the direction of the city, Russia says it has defeated its enemy’s attacks near the city.

The defence ministry says Ukrainian forces mounted a series of “unsuccessful offensives” in the area – which has seen some of the deadliest fighting of the war.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify either side’s claims.

What are Russian media organisations saying?

The Kakhovka dam disaster was front-page news in most Russian media this morning, except for Rossiyskaya Gazeta – the official newspaper of the Kremlin – which relegated the story to page three in favour of a story about rubbish.

The paper sticks to the Russian government’s line that Ukraine is responsible for blowing up the dam.

Our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, has taken a look at how Russian media have covered the story.

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