Holding out in Hell Kyiv's Troops Battle in Bakhmut Against Russian Offensive

The battle for Bakhmut is raging on, and the fighting has been described as "hellish." Ukrainian troops are holding out against a relentless Russian offensive, determined to defend the city at all costs. The conflict has reached a critical point, as Moscow sees capturing Bakhmut as a major objective in its quest to seize the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region. But the stakes are even higher for Kyiv, as they see the city as a symbol of resistance against Russian aggression. The winter offensive launched by Russia has been the bloodiest fighting of the war so far, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Despite losing ground throughout the second half of 2022, Russia made use of hundreds of thousands of reservists called up late last year to launch a fierce trench warfare campaign. The situation in Bakhmut and around it is utter hell, as it is on the entire eastern front, according to Ukrainian commander Volodymyr Nazarenko. The battle for Bakhmut has also highlighted a feud between Russia's military and the Wagner private army leading its assault, with the boss of Wagner demanding more ammunition and accusing ministry officials of "treason" for failing to supply adequate ammunition to his forces. As the world watches and waits to see how this crucial battle will affect the outcome of the war, it remains unclear whether Ukraine will pull out of Bakhmut or stay on to continue wearing down the Russian force. One thing is certain: the stakes are high, and the future course of the war could be determined by the outcome of this critical battle.