Inside Bakhmut’s blackened nightmare Ukrainians are terrified – but Russia’s domination could be a pyrrhic victory
It is a long, nervy and treacherous walk to the frontline trenches around Bakhmut.
As we make our way through woodland, the war crashes and booms around us.
Although Ukraine has made small gains in the open ground around the flanks, its hold inside the city is looking increasingly desperate.
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Russia has captured at least 95% of the buildings and is still pushing forward.
To get to the defensive positions outside the main city means leaving cover and traversing farmland.
Russian drones are looking for movement – targets for their artillery.
As we move we hear shells screeching overhead and then the heart-thumping moment they smash into the ground just a few hundred metres away.
In the trenches, the soldiers are hardened to the dangers – and from here you can see the city up close.
Bakhmut appears like a vision from a nightmare.
The buildings are just blackened bones of a place where people used to live.
On the horizon, we witness a smoking wreck of rubble and death.
If it falls it will be a pyrrhic victory for Moscow – they’ve lost tens of thousands of soldiers here.
But it will be a major military and psychological blow for Ukraine nonetheless – Kyiv has invested a huge amount in its defence.
Read more on the battle for Bakhmut:
Ukrainian city a smoking ruin as Russians forced back in disarray
The battle of Bakhmut is not about seizing vital ground
‘We will fight to the end’
From a covered position we watch as shell after shell is unleashed on this city under siege.
Bakhmut has seen the fiercest urban combat of anywhere in the world since the Second World War.
The men who are its defenders tell us they are only holding on. But they will not give up.
One soldier tells me: “We are on our land and we will protect this land.
“We have a great motivation, a very great motivation, to protect our land.
“And I think that the enemy understands that we will fight to the end.”
Further along the frontline is the city of Chasiv Yar and with Russia controlling nearly all of Bakhmut, it could be next.
From the window of a shattered apartment block, the troops here show me where Vladimir Putin’s forces are moving.
Use the sliders below to see Maxar satellite images of Bakhmut 12 months ago compared to today
‘It’s a scary situation’
The crisp spring day is fractured by the thunderous sound of shells exploding nearby.
Large plumes of smoke mushroom over the tree line.
Ukraine’s main counteroffensive may not have started but the fighting remains intense.
At the command centre, they know the big push is looming – but until it starts they must keep Russia from advancing further.
It is not easy.
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Inside the battle for Bakhmut
The Deputy Section Commander, Andriy, speaks candidly about the reality of this grinding conflict.
“Enemy forces attack our positions every day, night and day… we fight for all the power we have, and I don’t know – it’s actually a very difficult and scary situation.”
This war is exacting a terrible price on Ukraine.
Every building is battered – and it’s getting worse
The most savage fighting, in the Donbas, has forced the majority from their homes – here shells land in streets without warning.
As we drive we see a vehicle on fire. It’s just been hit by artillery.
Every building is battered.
And Moscow’s indiscriminate use of violence is getting worse.
It’s becoming a nightly occurrence – towns and cities are being hit with barrages of missiles and drones.
In Kramatorsk, we see frightened people clearing up after a large bomb exploded in their neighbourhood in the middle of the night.
There’s no military target here – just apartment blocks – and civilians who are terrified.
Valentyna was sleeping at the time of the explosion.
She tells me: “I trembled, could not stand up, and take at least one step. I was shaking.
“My son dragged me into the bathroom. When we left, there was dust everywhere – terrible.”
Each day in Ukraine brings more carnage and each day this war goes on there’s a little less hope.
World
European leaders to meet in Ukraine for ‘coalition of the willing’ talks – and issue call to Russia
Sir Keir Starmer will join other European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday for talks on the “coalition of the willing”.
The prime minister is attending the event alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
It will be the first time the leaders of the four countries will travel to Ukraine at the same time – on board a train to Kyiv – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kiev. Pic: Reuters
Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for the coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement voicing support for Ukraine and calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.
Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.
“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
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Putin’s Victory Day parade explained
The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.
“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”
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The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.
They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.
This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.
World
Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say
Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.
The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.
Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.
An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.
It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.
On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.
The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.
The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.
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Explained: India-Pakistan conflict
Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.
India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.
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Conclaves are famously unpredictable affairs – and once again the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new pope caught many by surprise.
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV won the consensus of the 133 cardinal electors after only four ballots – a fast process for a diverse college of cardinals.
Though his name had circulated among some Vatican watchers, other cardinals had emerged as clear front-runners, including Pietro Parolin – the Vatican’s number two who would have been the first Italian in almost 50 years to become pontiff – or Luis Tagle, a Filipino cardinal looking to become the first Asian pope.
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What are the conclave’s secrecy measures?
Instead, it was the first North American to win the highly secretive process.
So, what went on behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel?
Until Thursday lunchtime, Cardinal Parolin was ahead, gathering between 45 and 55 votes, sources say.
A substantial number, but well short of the 89 votes he needed for a two-thirds majority.
At this point, Cardinal Prevost had between 34 and 44 votes.
But as the Italian struggled to grow his support during the first three rounds of voting, he stepped down from the race, endorsing Prevost instead, Sky News understands.
Read more:
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
List of demands in new pope’s in-tray
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Who is Pope Leo?
An internal battle between Luis Tagle and Pablo Virgilio David – both cardinals hailing from Asia – cancelled out both of their chances.
And a contender from Africa – the most conservative sector of the church – was never likely for a conclave where the overwhelming majority of cardinals had been appointed by Francis, a progressive pontiff, sources say.
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Moment new pope emerges on balcony
An American pope has long been seen as highly improbable, given the geopolitical power of the US.
But Cardinal Prevost was able to draw from across the groups making up the electors: moderate US cardinals, South American cardinals and many European cardinals all coalesced around him.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica said Prevost “certainly attracted cross-party preferences, both ideologically and geographically”.
“In the conclave he was the least American of Americans: Born in Chicago, he lived 20 years in Peru,” the newspaper said.
It added: “As a man used to teamwork, Prevost appeared to many as the right man to make the papacy evolve into a more collegial form.”
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