TUESDAY May 9, 2023: 'BATTLE FOR BAKHMUT' by Award winning photojournalists Ashley Chan, Laurel Chor and Mykhaylo Palinchak from SOPA Images: The battle for Bakhmut has been the most intense of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, costing thousands of lives on both sides in months of grinding warfare. Ukrainian troops have been pushed back in recent weeks but have clung on in the city to inflict as many Russian losses as possible ahead of Kyiv's planned big push against the invading forces along the 620-mile front line. Ukraine is expected to soon start a much-anticipated counteroffensive to retake Moscow-held territory, including in the Zaporizhzhia region, which hosts Europe's largest nuclear plant. The United Nations nuclear watchdog expressed concern over the possible escalation of hostilities. Welcome to 'BATTLE FOR BAKHMUT'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #888: TUESDAY May 9, 2023: 'BATTLE FOR BAKHMUT' by Award winning photojournalists Ashley Chan, Laurel Chor and Mykhaylo Palinchak from SOPA Images: The battle for Bakhmut has been the most intense of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, costing thousands of lives on both sides in months of grinding warfare. Ukrainian troops have been pushed back in recent weeks but have clung on in the city to inflict as many Russian losses as possible ahead of Kyiv's planned big push against the invading forces along the 620-mile front line. Ukraine is expected to soon start a much-anticipated counteroffensive to retake Moscow-held territory, including in the Zaporizhzhia region, which hosts Europe's largest nuclear plant. The United Nations nuclear watchdog expressed concern over the possible escalation of hostilities. Welcome to 'BATTLE FOR BAKHMUT'

A soldier covers his ears as the mortar unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fires at enemy positions in the suburbs of Bakhmut. The intensity of battles in the Bakhmut sector has been compared to those of World Wars I and II.
© Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A tank team from the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, also known as ''Edelweiss'', firing at Russian positions from an undisclosed location in Donbas. Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region of Ukraine as Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in a fierce fight for the key city of Bakhmut.
© Laurel Chor/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian artillerymen from the 24th Assault Battalion 'Aidar' fire a 122mm howitzer D-30 into Russian positions near Bakhmut, as Ukrainian forces hold positions amid attacks.
© Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

YEHOR, a driver of a tank team from the Ukrainian 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, also known as 'Edelweiss', which operates and fires at Russian positions in Donbas. Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region of Ukraine as Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in a fierce fight for the key city of Bakhmut.
© Laurel Chor/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A tank team from the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, also known as ''Edelweiss'', at an undisclosed location in Donbas. Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region of Ukraine as Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in a fierce fight for the key city of Bakhmut.
© Laurel Chor/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A former soviet BMP-1 armed personnel carrier seen from a tank operated by the Ukrainian 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, also known as 'Edelweiss', passes homes in Donbas. Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region of Ukraine as Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in a fierce fight for the key city of Bakhmut.
© Laurel Chor/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A rosary bead is seen wrapped in the rear-view mirror of a Ukrainian military vehicle near Soledar. The town in Donetsk region has been under siege by Russian armed forces since January. Thenearby city of Bakhmut has seen as one of the most significant battles since the Russian invasion.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Spent cartridges including howitzer shells piled on the ground at the frontline position of a Ukrainian artillery crew. Russian troops continue to storm Bakhmut, but have been unable to take the city since mid-summer 2022.
© Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian soldiers are seen in a shelter in the trench during a shelling, less than 1 mile away from Russian positions near Soledar. The eastern Ukrainian town in Donetsk region has been sieged by Russian armed forces and has provided an advantage on the encirclement of nearby city, Bakhmut, which has seen the most significant fighting since the Russian invasion.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier cleans his weapon and fills the magazine with bullets in the base near Soledar. Ukrainians are preparing for the long-awaited counteroffensive, the battle to regain control of Soledar near Bakhmut and its surrounding area.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A young Ukrainian soldier stands in a frontline trench, roughly half a mile away from Russian position near Soledar. The eastern Ukrainian town in Donetsk region has been sieged by Russian armed forces since January. Much of the front line has descended into positional trench warfare, with both sides suffering high casualties without any significant advances.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

MYKTA, 23, a Ukrainian soldier from the 17th Tank Brigade smiles during a break in fighting at their artillery position. Mykta voluntarily joined the army since last summer in the hopes to help end the war. Ukrainian armed forces are fighting intensely in Bakhmut and the surrounding area as Russian forces are getting ever closer to taking the eastern city. The battle of Bakhmut is now known as 'the bloodiest' and 'one of the longest fights' in the war with Russia.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A soldier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces sits in a dugout at a firing position in the suburbs of Bakhmut town, as Ukraine forces continue to battle with Russian troops for control of the city.
© Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier flies a drone from trenches near Soledar. Drone reconnaissance has been playing an important role in the war, as they not only act as surveillance but also carry out attack missions.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian soldier stands in a field next to an unexploded rocket near Soledar. The eastern Ukrainian town in Donetsk region has been sieged by Russian armed force since January. The siege has provides an advantage on the encirclement of nearby city, Bakhmut, which is seen as one of the most significant fighting since the Russian invasion.
© Ashley Chan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire