Russian and Ukrainian troops in close combat, town in Donetsk flattened

Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut. Photo: CNN

The British Ministry of Defense said Russian reservists were ordered to attack a Ukrainian stronghold with guns and shovels, possibly the outdated MPL-50 trench digging tool used for hand-to-hand combat, CNN reported.

The MPL-50 was designed in 1869 and its continued use as a weapon highlights low-tech fighting and is evidence of increased frontline close combat, the Ministry of Defence said, adding that it was a sign of Russia's lack of ammunition.

In December 2022, Russian citizens crowdfunded to equip soldiers participating in Russia's military campaign in Ukraine with socks, winter clothes, sleeping bags and body armor after soldiers complained that they lacked basic equipment.

The town of Marinka in Donetsk was leveled.

The town of Marinka was flattened. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has tweeted two photos of the town of Marinka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The photos appear to show the town badly damaged and, in the words of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, leveled.

According to AP news agency, images recorded by drones also show the same thing.

Marinka police chief Artem Schus said his entire town had been destroyed and the entire population had been evacuated because it was no longer viable for civilians to live there. Artem accused the Russians of destroying everything, regardless of whether it was a military facility or not.

Evacuation of civilians from Bakhmut is difficult.

The evacuation of civilians from the city of Bakhmut, the scene of fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, has slowed significantly as the Ukrainian army struggles to reach trapped residents.

Deputy Mayor Bakhmut Oleksandr Marchenko told CNN that only five to 10 people are being evacuated from the city each day, down sharply from around 600 people taken away during the peak of the evacuation.

The official said Russia had bombarded the city with airstrikes, artillery and mortars, making it impossible for Ukrainian troops to get there. Mr. Marchenko said there were still 4,000 to 4,500 people in Bakhmut, but it was difficult to convince them to leave.

General Richard Dannatt, a former top British military commander, said on March 5 that it was entirely reasonable for the Ukrainian army to withdraw to a more defensible line at Bakhmut. According to him, Bakhmut is not very important strategically for Ukraine. However, a Ukrainian commander affirmed that his troops will not withdraw from Bakhmut and that they have not changed their tactics.