Ukrainian drone shows devastation in Bakhmut

Drone footage released on June 22 by a branch of the Ukrainian Ground Forces depicts widespread devastation in western areas of Bakhmut, the Donetsk city that had been the scene of months of bloody fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. On June 21, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar said daily fighting was still ongoing near Bakhmut, with Ukrainian troops holding “strong positions, repelling constant enemy attacks and inflicting maximum losses on the occupier,” according to a machine translation of her statement on Telegram. On June 22, Maliar said Ukrainian forces were blocking the advance of Russian troops near Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka. At the end of May, Russian forces, composed largely of PMC Wagner, the Kremlin-linked private mercenary company, claimed to have seized control of Bakhmut before handing it over to the Russian military. However, Ukrainian forces still held positions in the southwest of the city, according to reports from both Maliar and Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in early June. The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: Like The Sun on Facebook: Follow The Sun on Twitter: Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: #ukraine #war #russia