蜜芽传媒

When the history of the war in Ukraine is written, some place-names are likely to figure large. Think of Mariupol -- besieged and finally conquered by the Russians; or Bucha -- where, when the invaders were pushed out, evidence of atrocities emerged. We may also recall Bakhmut -- the town in the east which for months has seen some of the fiercest, bloodiest fighting -- the territory won and lost inch by inch, huge numbers of casualties inflicted on both sides. There've been reports for months now that the Russians may be about to take full control. But the Ukrainian forces do still appear to be holding out. Accompanied by about five and half thousand residents who remain -- out of the eighty thousand who used to live in the town. Oleksandr Marchenko is the deputy mayor of Bakhmut. When Newshour's Tim Franks spoke to him on Monday, 27 February, he explained to him first where he was speaking from.

(Photo: Civilians taking refuge in a humanitarian aid centre in Bakhmut - Monday 27 February 2023. Credit: AFP)