On Monday, a senior Ukrainian commander stated that Russian troops were employing “scorched earth” tactics to attack the city of Bakhmut. They also destroyed buildings and positions using air strikes and artillery.

The Ukrainian forces have held on to Bakhmut for months, a small town in eastern Donetsk where the intense fighting of Moscow’s Feb. 2022 invasion killed thousands of soldiers. This city has been called the “meat-grinder” by the Ukrainians.

“The enemy has switched to the so-called scorched Earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings with air strikes, artillery fire, and it is targeting positions,” stated Colonel General Oleksandr Sirskyi of the Ukrainian ground forces.

He said that Bakhmut’s defense continued.

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Syrskyi is in charge of the east operation and visited the front lines with the most intense fighting around Bakhmut on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Military Media Centre.

He said, “The situation is complicated but manageable.”

Russia was also accused by Ukraine of using “scorched Earth” tactics in its attack on Sievierodonetsk last summer, an eastern Luhansk city. After a Russian invasion, Kyiv’s forces had to leave the area in July.

According to Ukraine, Bakhmut’s defense is buying Ukraine time to prepare for its much-anticipated spring offensive. It also claims that Russia is suffering huge losses as a result of the Ukrainian defence.

In recent weeks, Russian forces gained ground on Bakhmut’s flanks, threatening vital supply lines for Kyiv’s defenses. They also advanced inside the city.

Moscow would have its first major victory since the capture of Bakhmut and Lysychansk, two cities roughly equal in size.

Syrskyi stated that Russia had brought in special forces and airborne attack units to assist them in their attack on the city, as members of Russia’s private Wagner military organization had “exhausted”.

The assault on Bakhmut was spearheaded by Wagner militia fighters.

Reuters was unable to verify the accounts from the battlefield.