Bakhmut in ruins after nearly a year of fighting

Commercial satellite images show the city of Bakhmut almost completely leveled after bloody fighting that has lasted nearly a year.

On May 19, the US company Maxar released high-definition satellite images taken in May 2022 and May 2023, showing the extent of destruction after months of fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk province.

Panoramic view of Bakhmut city in May 2022 (left) and May 2023. Photo: Maxar

In photos from May 2022, the city was still intact with colorful roofed buildings and patches of green trees covering the ground. Exactly a year later, Bakhmut is like a ghost town covered in thick smog, the vegetation has disappeared, most of the buildings have been leveled or severely damaged.

The images were released just a day before Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia's private security group Wagner, announced that his forces had taken full control of Bakhmut, ending a nearly 10-month battle for the city.

A residential area in downtown Bakhmut in May 2022 (left) and May 2023. Photo: Maxar

The battle for Bakhmut is considered the most intense and prolonged since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022. Western experts expressed skepticism about the strategic significance of Bakhmut, but said that controlling the city would create some advantages for Russia.

Kiev says its military is determined to hold Bakhmut to keep Moscow’s forces in the area at bay. Meanwhile, taking control of Bakhmut could allow Russia to push further west and directly target Ukrainian defenses in the area.

Since the Bakhmut offensive began in mid-2022, Russia’s signature tactic has been “artillery first, rear assault,” but with some tweaks. The Russian military and Wagner have often sent small units to probe the defenses and force Ukraine to reveal its position when they open fire, after which the rear artillery would pound the Ukrainian defenses.

The school and apartment complex in central Bakhmut in May 2022 (left) and May 2023. Photo: Maxar

This tactic cost Ukraine many experienced soldiers, but also required Russia to use a lot of artillery. As the artillery changed direction and Wagner forces advanced, they became easy targets for Ukrainian soldiers in their bunkers.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for Ukraine's eastern command, rejected Wagner's claim of control of Bakhmut. "Our units continue to fight in Bakhmut," Mr Cherevatyi said.

Vu Anh (According to Guardian )

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