Inside the small Ukrainian city where Russia is fighting a protracted battle for control

A Ukrainian serviceman drives a car amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Februmore

Smoke rises from apartment buildings damaged from missile strikes during intense shelling on Christmas Day at more

Ukrainian servicemen walk along a street in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 9more

A local resident stands next to his apartment building in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraimore

Ukrainian military officers and civilians shop at a street market in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine August 2more

Local residents sit inside a bomb shelter in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February more

A man cycles past a destroyed shopping center in Bakhmut, Ukraine, October 28, 2022. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Ukrainian servicemen exit an armored personnel carrier in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraimore

People queue to receive aid boxes containing food during intense shelling in Bakhmut, Ukraine, December 26, 20more

Volodymyr, 61, and Nataliia Bolias, 51, walk past an industrial building that received a missile strike duringmore

Ukrainian servicemen stand next to a residential building heavily damaged during a Russian military strike in more

A general view shows the city of Bahkmut in Donetsk region, Ukraine, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratusmore

Local residents stand in the yard of their destroyed apartment building in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Dmore

Local residents walk on an empty street in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. REUTERS/more

A local resident stands in the yard of her destroyed apartment building in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Dmore

A man walks at a stadium damaged by a Russian military strike in Bakhmut, Ukraine, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Glebmore

A view shows an empty street in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 15, 2023. REUmore

A man searches for useful items inside his house after a missile strike hit a residential area in Bakhmut, Donmore

A local resident walks in an empty street in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, February 7, 2023. REUTERSmore

A view shows a damaged building in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 15, 2023. more

A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at a position in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Februamore

A woman peers between apartment block buildings during bombardment in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, more

A paramedic waits inside a shelter as shelling can be heard in the near proximity of a hospital in Bakhmut, Domore

A building is seen on fire from a strike during intense shelling in Bakhmut, Ukraine, December 26, 2022. REUTEmore

A local resident walks by a crater after a rocket attack on a university campus in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukmore

Local residents pull a sled loaded with bottles of water in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukrmore

A view shows a damaged building in the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 15, 2023. more

A local resident stands in front of an apartment building destroyed in a missile strike in Bakhmut, Ukraine, Jmore

Residential houses are heavily damaged by a Russian military strike in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Decemmore

A local resident walks past a Ukrainian serviceman on a street in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 9more

A local resident walks by a destroyed building after a rocket attack on a university campus in Bakhmut, Donetsmore

Murals are painted on the side of apartment blocks in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 6, 2022. REUTERS/Jmore