Ukraine news latest — Civilians flee war-torn Bakhmut on foot as Russian troops surround the city

UKRANIAN civilians are fleeing the eastern city of Bakhmut as heavy fighting continues. The city is surrounded on three sides by the Russian troops and Wagner Group forces, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence latest intelligence update. The update also said Bakhmut was under “increasingly severe pressure, with intense fighting taking place in and around the city”. A Ukrainian army representative who asked not to be identified for operational reasons, told The Associated Press news agency that it was now too dangerous for civilians to leave the city by vehicle, and that people had to flee on foot instead. Russian forces have been trying to take Bakhmut since May 2022, with the city seeing some of the war’s heaviest fighting since the invasion began.  Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…