The soil of Bakhmut is dusted with snow and soaked with blood. This small city in Eastern Ukraine is at the centre of an epic battle.

For more than six months Russian forces have tried to claim it. Ukrainian troops have resisted, giving rise to the popular slogan here "Bakhmut holds." บาคาร่า365

Now the Russians are attacking from three sides, with regular troops and fighters from the notorious Wagner mercenary group. The Russians have reached one of the main highways into the city, and are closing in on the outskirts.

There is house-to-house fighting in some areas on the outskirts, with "hard battles for every home" according to the Ukrainian military.

It feels like Bakhmut is on borrowed time. If so, Ilya and Oleksii intend to use every second of it.