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What really happened in Bakhmut?

BBC journalists Olga Ivshina and Vitaly Shevchenko have been reporting on the fight of Bakhmut, the longest and bloodiest battle of the war in Ukraine.

In 2022, the city of Bakhmut in Eastern Ukraine was attacked by Russian forces. The fight for Bakhmut lasted over 10 months and claimed the lives of thousands of people on both sides, becoming the longest and bloodiest battle in this war so far. But why was this sleepy town such an important target for Russia? And what role did the mercenary Wagner group play there? BBC Russian’s Olga Ivshina and Ukrainecast presenter Vitaly Shevchenko investigate. Plus, Sucheera Maguire explains the meaning of the Thai word 'Sanuk'.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Hannah Dean.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Mon 26 Aug 202402:32GMT
BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

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