Photos, videos and stories from Ukraine are constantly appearing. They can be brutal, touching or simply show the impressive willpower of Ukrainians.
This time it is the photos of Bakhmut’s trenches that attract attention.
– That it looks like this is unfortunately not surprising. There are shocking images, Ukrainian expert Tom Røseth, who follows the war and is the principal intelligence teacher at the Norwegian Defense Academy, tells Nettavisen.
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Winter and cold
Winter has hit Bakhmut and the rest of Ukraine hard, which the civilian population has experienced painfully, but also has great significance for those who spend their days in the trenches along the front.
– Massive destruction is one thing, and life in these trenches is another. It will be terribly cold there, says Røseth.
If you immediately think the images look similar to what was seen from WW1, you’re not alone.
– It is very easy to draw parallels with the First World War. Especially when you see the massive destruction and the trees, but of course also these trenches that have been under constant shelling. There are clear parallels to the time during the First World War.
– Hard battles
Fierce fighting around Bakhmut has been going on for several months now, and Lieutenant Colonel Geir Hågen Karlsen said on a previous occasion that the city is strategically important for control in Donetsk county.
– Bakhmut has been the subject of fierce battles for long periods. There has been little progress for Russia. It is the Wagner group that mainly fought the battles there on the Russian side. They probably suffered heavy losses there, says Røseth.
While the destruction at Bakhmut is sensational, Røseth says the situation is probably quite similar in many other places along the front line in Ukraine.
– It is not news that there is trench warfare in Ukraine, in this area trenches have been the line of contact since 2014-15. What was once a line of contact is now a frontline. Roseth says.
– Attacking in this area is a big risk and requires a lot of fire support, says Røseth.
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