Inside Ukraine’s bloodiest battle where soldiers have just 4 HOUR life expectancy in fighting with ‘drugged up’ Russians

SOLDIERS fighting in Ukraine’s bloodiest battle have a life expectancy of just four hours as they fight “drugged up” Russians. Ukrainian troops in the battle for Bakhmut are fighting against what they’ve alleged is a zombie-like army that often outnumbers them 10 to 1. APThe sound of artillery fire in the city is constant[/caption] APThe longest battle of the Ukraine war, Ukrainian troops are still holding on[/caption] AFPThe once beautiful, 19th Century city has become a wasteland[/caption] A once popular tourist destination, Bakhmut has been reduced to ruin. Hollowed out by artillery fire, levelled by carpet bombing, the frozen ground carved up by craters and trenches, Bakhmut will never return to its former glory. Its pre-war population of 80,000 has dwindled to around 7,000 brave, mostly elderly residents who stayed behind. They are now trapped under a barrage of gunfire and explosions as Ukraine defends its stronghold against a fierce Russian onslaught. Nadiya Burdinska, born in Bakhmut and resolute in her decision to stay told France24 that: “only a dummy wouldn’t be afraid.” “Everything is possible… if God wants it, I’ll stay alive,” she said with a pained grin. There’s no signal, most cars have been burnt, and Russia has ceaselessly targeted their energy and service infrastructure. Most residents have been without running water for the most part of a year. And yet, on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky told an EU summit: “Nobody will give away Bakhmut. We will fight for as long as we can. We consider Bakhmut our fortress.” Zelensky vowed to defend Bakhmut despite emphasising the fighting is gruellingly “tough”. After eight months of relentless fighting, Russia still does not have control of the symbolic eastern city of Bakhmut. Both sides are firmly dug in and achingly slow progress has been taking place at a very high cost to human life in scenes that have been likened to the First World War battlefields. Exhausted Ukrainian forces have held onto, albeit scarcely, their “fortress” in the longest battle of the Ukraine war. It’s also the most symbolic. For Russia to make genuine progress in controlling the rest of the Donetsk region – one of four regions Putin brazenly claimed to have annexed in September, then the Russian army must first take Bakhmut. Yet, this eastern salt city holds more than just military importance. They are fighting up to the last ditch…there are fierce battles for every street, every house, every stairwell Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin Not only is it a much needed victory to fuel a starved Russian propaganda machine – Putin has not won a major battlefield victory since the summer – but it’s key to Russia’s political plans to break Ukrainian spirits. A Ukrainian reporter, who had spoken to soldiers fighting on the frontlines in the city, reported that they had told her: “the average lifespan for mobilised fighters in Bakhmut is four hours”. A Ukrainian military official looked back at her unfazed and debated it for a second. “I think it’s longer.” Russia has the luxury of sheer manpower bolstered by the Wagner Group, whose front wing is made up of largely poorly-trained and badly-equipped convict recruits. Ukrainian officials have referred to their role on the battlefield as “cannon fodder” – expendable soldiers to be sacrificed in the front waves, whilst the private militia’s specialist troops hang back. If they survive six months at the front, they have secured their freedom. Many don’t. “We were fighting for about 10 hours in a row. And it wasn’t like just waves, it was uninterrupted. So it was just like they didn’t stop coming,” a Ukrainian soldier called Andriy told CNN. “It was about 20 soldiers on our side. And let’s say 200 from their side.” He described fighting the convict army as a scene from a zombie movie. “They’re climbing above the corpse of their friends, stepping on them.” Andriy said a machine gunner was stunned to find that when he shoot at them, they kept moving until they bled out.             “It looks like it’s very, very likely that they are getting some drugs before attack,” he claimed. Describing the fighting, Ukrainian soldier Petro Voloschenko told AP: “It’s hell on earth right now; I can’t find enough words to describe it.” Voloschenko, 44, is originally from Kyiv has spent many months in the city that he says is a “symbol of Ukrainian invincibility”.   “Bakhmut is the heart of Ukraine, and the future peace of those cities that are no longer under occupation depends on the rhythm with which it beats.” In a rare admission of truth, Wagner boss and Putin lapdog Yevgeny Prigozhin sought to put to bed Russian media reports that Ukrainian soldiers were leaving the city. Instead, he confirmed in a statement on Telegram that: “The Ukrainian armed forces are not retreating. “They are fighting up to the last ditch… there are fierce battles for every street, every house, every stairwell”. But military analysts say Bakhmut is nearing tipping point and Britain’s defence ministry confirmed today that Russia has made “small in advances” in its pursuit of encircling the city. The tense news comes as Ukraine braces for a suspected Russian spring offensive to commemorate the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Ukraine’s military intelligence reports estimate 500,000 conscripted soldiers are amassing on the border preparing to attack on the eastern and southern fronts. Ukraine has been desperately scrambling for more heavy weaponry from the West, some, but not all of which, will arrive in time. At a press conference today, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Rezniko said: “We still, of course, expect possible Russian offensive operations, because it’s February, and they like symbolism”. Like Bakhmut holds almost a mythic level of importance to Ukraine, Russia will likely be intent on winning this battle ahead of their “symbolic” anniversary. “We are ready,” Rezniko said, “Ukrainian Armed Forces are ready.”   AFPOutside the city, Ukrainian servicemen dig trenches in Bakhmut’s frozen ground[/caption] AFPCivilians trapped within the city risk being killed by enemy fire as they travel to get water[/caption]