Nicolas Tonev (special envoy to Bakhmout)
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8:34 a.m., February 13, 2023
11 days from a sad anniversary, that of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the special envoy of Europe 1 joined the front line of Bakhmout, alongside the Ukrainian artillerymen of the 93rd brigade, located in the east from the country. The Russians have made the conquest of this city a priority. The noose is tightening, but the Ukrainians are resisting.
After the fall of Soledar, the city of Bakhmout is more than ever under pressure from the Russian armies. Half surrounded, the city is only connected to the outside on the Ukrainian side by a single road under Russian fire. Crushed under bombs and shells, the city center is nothing but ruins, Europe 1 went to meet a unit of the 93rd mortar fire brigade of the Ukrainian army responsible for keeping the Russian opponent.
Ukrainian soldiers keep smiling
Incessant departures and arrivals of shells and rockets, the surroundings are nothing but blackened ruins. Run to the refuge bunker of Alexander and his mortar brigade. “The Russians are one or two kilometers from us. We feel that they are putting pressure on us. We are receiving big gifts from them, rockets, shells, but we are holding Bakhmout, we are also sending,” he explains. he at the microphone of Europe 1.
At five men, five meters underground, humor keeps them going. “We found mattresses. The mortar crews like comfort. For us, it’s the most pleasant sound here, it means tea, coffee and heat. We don’t need to hear the explosions , but our teapot, that’s comfort.” But everything is temporary. For lack of ammunition, Alexandre only fires 5 to 10 shells per day. The unit has retreated three times in recent weeks.
All access to Bakhmout will be closed tomorrow
From tomorrow, February 13, 2023, the army will close all access and movement to Bakhmout for all civilians, including volunteers, the commander with call sign Madyar said. It will be possible to get to Bakhmout only with special passes. The purpose of the ban is to ensure the safety of civilians against enemy sabotage groups entering the city.