Bakhmut battles on in bid to weaken Russian assault

Ukrainian troops will keep defending the eastern city of Bakhmut and reinforcements will be sent in, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a bid to break Moscow's assault force.

Moscow has sent thousands of troops in human wave attacks over recent weeks to try to capture Bakhmut and secure its first battlefield victory in more than half a year.

Ukrainian forces had been digging trenches and in recent days had seemed to be preparing to withdraw in order to preserve their forces.

But Zelensky's remarks suggested Kyiv had elected not only to stay and fight on but to reinforce the city. "The command unanimously supported" the decision not to withdraw, Zelensky said.

Russia says taking Bakhmut would be a stepping stone towards recapturing the surrounding Donbas region, a major war aim.

Western strategists say the ruined city has little value, but it is a symbolic victory for President Vladimir Putin, involving hundreds of thousands of troops from Russia's Wagner private army.

However, the Ukrainian military command yesterday reported a record 1,600 Russians killed over the previous 24 hours. Such figures cannot be confirmed, but past Ukrainian reports of similar spikes have corresponded with major failed Russian assaults.

Meanwhile, a video apparently showing Russian soldiers gunning down an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war caused an outcry across Ukraine. The man says "Glory to Ukraine" before multiple shots are heard. A voice is heard saying "Die, bitch" in Russian.

While Zelensky condemns it, Russia denies executing war crimes in Ukraine.

Kyiv is trying to exhaust the attacking Russians before an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive later this year.