Russia slowly gains ground in eastern Donbas region

Russian forces are slowly gaining ground in eastern Donbas region. Russian army occupy northside of Donets River - a few hundred meters from Ukrainian trenches on southside. key cites of Soledar and Bakhmut in Donbas region are being heavily shelled, and people live in fear of continuous bombardment.

In Soledar, people only leave ir apartment blocks for emergencies. odd car can be seen on deserted streets and threat of shell or rocket fire is constant, with bomb fragments pock-marking ros. re's no power or water in Soledar and residents are terrified, camping next to ir bomb shelters. One woman says she's no longer living, only surviving in an endless nightmare.

"What can I tell you? How can we live here when y are shooting or shelling on you he?", she said. Military analysts believe Russian forces are focusing ir efforts on capturing cities of Bakhmut and Siversk in Donetsk province. Bakhmut is slowly being crushed by shells and rockets are landing re every day.

One man, who will only give his name as Ruslan, says he wants Ukraine to win but more than that he wants peace and stability - even if it means conceding territory and living under Russian occupation. "y should've given all territory (Donbas) in beginning. y could avoid many victims," he said.

People in Bakhmut alrey know what Russia will do to achieve its ends, with civilian targets often hit. local school lies in ruins; smashed in an airstrike. re are reminders of what life was once like, with pictures of school children hanging on walls amidst rubble. But now re's only sound of violence here, with war looking unlikely to end anytime soon.