Wagner mercenaries: The bloodiest battle in eastern Ukraine has been raging around Bachmut for months. Strategically, that makes no sense

The message comes via Whatsapp, shortly after 12 noon. “Yes, we can talk, but we have no electricity, no internet and only sometimes mobile service,” writes Ukrainian doctor Dimitri Urakov, 42, a surgeon at Toretsk Municipal Hospital, located on the far eastern flank of the Ukrainian positions. A few minutes later he calls. The doctor speaks quickly, without pausing. “For 20 days, the Russian attacks have become more and more intense. The front is getting closer and closer. Now it’s maybe two kilometers away.” Then the line breaks down.

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