In Photos: Life in Bakhmut as Russian and Ukrainian Forces Wage Fierce Battles
The city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region has been the epicenter of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces for months.
With a pre-war population of about 70,000, Bakhmut is known for its expansive salt mines and its wines.
It now lays mostly in ruins as Russian forces continue to pulverize the city in an effort to wrest it from Ukrainian control.
While nearly all civilians have fled the war zone, a number of residents remain — many of whom are elderly, sick or do not have the means to leave.
These photos depict scenes of everyday life amid the fighting:
With a pre-war population of about 70,000, Bakhmut is known for its expansive salt mines and its wines.
It now lays mostly in ruins as Russian forces continue to pulverize the city in an effort to wrest it from Ukrainian control.
While nearly all civilians have fled the war zone, a number of residents remain — many of whom are elderly, sick or do not have the means to leave.
These photos depict scenes of everyday life amid the fighting:
A resident walks on a street in Bakhmut.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Olga Tomah, 70, stands in front of a residential building where her flat burns after Russian shelling.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Nikolay 71, and Olga Tomah, 70, react near a residential building where their flat burns after Russian shelling. Olga was only able to save an Orthodox icon from the fire as firefighters could not come because of the shelling.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Residents walk on a street.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
A building destroyed as a result of Russian shelling bears an inscription that reads "Bakhmut loves Ukraine" and a portrait of the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, General Valery Zaluzhny.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Volunteers unload food and water from a van outside a "Point of Invincibility" humanitarian aid and heating point.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Local residents gather at a "Point of Invincibility" humanitarian aid and heating point organized by volunteers.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Local residents receive food at a humanitarian aid center. Russia and Ukraine have both suffered heavy casualties in the fight for Bakhmut, and most of the city's pre-war population of 70,000 have left for safer territory, leaving behind cratered roads and buildings reduced to rubble and twisted metal.
Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP
Volunteers distribute meals to local residents in a "Point of Invincibility" humanitarian aid and heating point.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Viktor, a resident of Bakhmut who was injured recently in Bakhmut, sits on the edge of his bed at a hospital.
Ihor Tkachov / AFP
Policemen collect the body of civilian who died after suffering a stroke.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
Ukrainian soldiers ride on armored personnel carrier (APC) along a road not far Bakhmut.
Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
