(11 Mar 2023)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Near Bakmut - 10 March 2023
1. Ukrainian paratroopers of the 80 Air Assault brigade run towards a self-propelled howitzer 2s1
2. Various of a Ukrainian paratroopers of the 80 Air Assault brigade preparing a self-propelled howitzer 2s1 to fire towards Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut
3. Various of Ukrainian paratrooper fire howitzer 2s1 to fire towards Russian positions
4. Various of Ukrainian paratroopers with howitzer
5. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Mikhail, Ukrainian paratrooper of the 80 Air Assault brigade:
"It's hard to defend the Bakhmut stronghold. Because a lot of enemy forces are concentrated here. And also the weather is not allowing us to use vehicles. It's too muddy."
6. Empty shell cartridges
7. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Mikhail, Ukrainian paratrooper of the 80 Air Assault brigade:
"(citing historic U.S. President Tomas Jefferson)The freedom is a tree. And must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. That's what we are doing now. Unfortunately, there are a lot of parties dying. But tyrants are dying more."
8. Mikhail walking into the dugout
9. Various of soldiers resting in the dugout
STORYLINE:
Fighting in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has “escalated,” with another push by Russian forces to break through Ukrainian defence lines that have largely held firm for the past six months, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister said on Friday.
In muddy fields and dugouts near Bakhmut, the Ukrainian fightback has been fraught with problems.
Mikhail, a paratrooper of the 80 Air Assault Brigade, says the weather has not allowed the forces to use vehicles, because "it's too muddy".
"It's hard to defend the Bakhmut stronghold. Because a lot of enemy forces are concentrated here," he told The Associated Press.
Footage captured by the AP showed the paratroopers firing a powerful howitzer 2s1 towards Russian positions on the frontline, as well as soldiers in their dugouts.
Just west of Bakhmut, shelling and missile strikes hit the Ukrainian-held city of Kostiantynivka, damaging multiple homes and injuring civilians.
Police said Russian forces attacked the town with S-300 missiles and cluster munitions.
Eight civilians were injured as a result of the shelling and about 14 houses, nine cars, a gas pipe, garages, outbuildings and civil infrastructure were damaged or completely destroyed.
AP Video by Mstyslav Chernov
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