Ukrainian soldiers near Bakhmut engage in some close fighting. The landscape is shattered, the foliage twisted and scorched, and fires burn in the twilight. To the left of the camera operator a soldier fires a rocket or RPG in the direction of the flames. To the right, an APC sits motionless, perhaps disabled. The scene is representative of the brutal nature of Ukraine’s grinding counteroffensive. The effort to encircle Bakhmut has continued at a deliberate pace intended to preserve Ukrainian combat power while inflicting maximum casualties on Russian forces and fixing Russian units in place. Lately this sector of the front has been upstaged by the reckless Russian assaults on Avdiivka, but the fighting around Bakhmut continues unabated.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for its big yearly event, an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico with an all veteran crew. You can support the mission at Tri-Sail.Org.