At least 5,990 civilians, including 200 children, are still living in the front-line city of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, local law enforcement reported.
“Despite the damaged police department, the regular unit, investigative and operational teams, and “White Angels” (evacuation group) continue to work in the city 24/7,” the statement reads. Russian regular forces, along with Kremlin-controlled private mercenary Wager Group, have been attempting to capture Bakhmut for months as Russia tries to consolidate its grip over the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, half of which it currently controls.
Russia has attacked Bakhmut continuously for over five months to occupy the entirety of Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine. Capturing Bakhmut would allow Russia to disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines in the area and open up a main road leading to the two key Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
