New satellite imagery published by U.S. satellite imagery company Maxar shows before and after images of the besieged city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.
The first image published by Maxar on Twitter shows Bakhmut before Aug. 1, 2022. The second shows a part of the city after Jan. 4, 2023, revealing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The battle of Bakhmut has gone on for more than five months as Russian forces throw manpower and artillery at the city in an effort to capture it. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have sustained major losses, but the city has remained Ukraine's main fortress in Donetsk Oblast.
The city is a major transportation hub, as well as resource-rich, making it a valuable target for Russia. Capturing the city would also be significant for Russia's goal of occupying the entirety of the eastern oblast.
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