Thousands race to flee 'almost destroyed' Ukrainian city amid heavy fighting

04 March 2023 , 20:49

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Heavy fighting is taking place in Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, where thousands are trying to flee (Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russian and Ukrainian forces were fighting in the streets of Bakhmut last night as its 4,000 remaining citizens hunkered down in shelters.

Stranded with no water, power or telecommunications, the city in eastern Ukraine is “almost destroyed”, but is not yet under Russia’s control, its deputy mayor Oleksandr Marchenko said.

He accused the Russians of having “no goal” but wanting to commit “genocide of the Ukrainian people”.

A woman was killed and two men wounded as they crossed a makeshift bridge. According to a Ukrainian army rep it is too dangerous for civilians to leave the city by vehicle, with people fleeing on foot. A pontoon bridge has been set up to help residents reach the nearby village of Khromove.

In a joint statement, Volodymyr Zelensky and EU President Roberta Metsola said “all those responsible” for suspected war crimes must be brought to justice before peace is achieved.

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Ukrainian officers help an elderly woman in Bakhmut (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

On Friday, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, provoked laughter at a conference in India when he claimed Russia was the victim of Ukrainian aggression.

A Ukrainian army representative told The Associated Press that it is now too dangerous for civilians to leave the city by vehicle, with people fleeing on foot instead.

A pontoon bridge has been set up by Ukrainian soldiers to help the city's few remaining residents reach the nearby village of Khromove.

Hours earlier, President Zelensky held talks with US attorney general Merrick Garland and top European legal officials on how to hold Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was laughed at in India (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In a joint press briefing with Mr Zelensky, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that "all those responsible" for suspected Russian war crimes in Ukraine, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, must be brought to justice before a durable peace is achieved.

Meanwhile Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov provoked open laughter from the audience at an international conference in India after he falsely claimed his home country to be a victim of Ukrainian aggression.

The 72-year-old said: “You know, the war, which we are trying to stop, which was launched against us” before loud laughter cut through his claim.

Karen Rockett