Ukrainian forces in the city of Bakhmut are facing "scorched earth" tactics by Russian troops, according to a statement made by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces. The city has been a focal point of the ongoing conflict in the eastern Donetsk region, where the fiercest fighting of Moscow's full-scale invasion has taken place.
Syrskyi stated that Russian forces have been destroying buildings and positions in Bakhmut with air strikes and artillery fire, using tactics that were previously seen in Syria. Despite this, he assured that the defense of the city continues.
The situation in Bakhmut has been described as a "meat-grinder," with thousands of soldiers killed since the start of the invasion in February 2022. Syrskyi recently visited the front line areas with the fiercest fighting and stated that the situation is difficult but controllable.
This is not the first time that Ukraine has accused Russia of using "scorched earth" tactics. Last summer, Russia was accused of doing the same in its assault on the city of Sievierodonetsk in the eastern Luhansk region, forcing Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the city in July after a Russian onslaught.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people since it began in 2022. The situation in Bakhmut highlights the continued intensity of the fighting and the devastating impact it has on the region.