Ukraine's Bakhmut: Inside the frontline city • FRANCE 24 English

The eastern city of Bakhmut has become the most active and violent frontline in the Ukraine war. It is constantly pounded with both Russian and Ukrainian artillery, and infantry is fighting on the streets. Our reporters James André and Mayssa Awad spent six days inside Bakhmut. They followed Ukrainian soldiers fighting to hold the city and the last residents struggling to survive under constant shelling. This is their exclusive report.
#Ukraine #Bakhmut #war
🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: f24.my/YTliveEN
🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: www.france24.com/en/
Like us on Facebook: f24.my/FBen
Follow us on Twitter: f24.my/TWen
Discover the news in pictures on Instagram: f24.my/IGen

[@RuleofFive]

The absolute waste of human lives for a horrible reason is beyond my comprehension. I hope that young couple finds some peace.

[@redacted.are.best.]

Really not understood, for 11 months?

[@patrickhenry6695]

@@redacted.are.best. you mean since 2014

[@redacted.are.best.]

@@patrickhenry6695 Well 11 months can't be compared.

[@kathya1956]

Guy will probably get conscripted.

[@tayikolla6205]

Right. Nato neutrality was worth 100,000 Ukrainian casualties?

[@faizal6948]

A massive respect to France 24 for reporting the ground situation. Tired of hearing unconfirmed news, spread by skynews, DW, CNN etc.

[@SelfProclaimedEmperor]

The confirmed news is that Russia has suffered the worst humiliation of the 21st century, 11 months into a planned 3 day war against a country 27 times smaller.

[@congthucle7937]

By not nó.

[@DCS977]

@@congthucle7937 ,,,shut up!!👉🐂🐂🐂🦆🦆++

[@elperrodj-lazcano8493]

CNN 🤑🤑🤡🤡🤡

[@user-fr9mw9go7z]

And from another dide?

[@reinoud6377]

Why aren't the civilians forcably evacuated by the military? Isn't that obliged by the Geneva convention?

[@sullybiker6520]

I am so impressed with that girl's dignity. Apologizing for showing some emotion, and refusing to fight with her father. What an astouding people under such awful circumstances.

[@bobzitsomee5987]

This is how a war video should be presented. ...Realtime and raw ..unbiased...honest... .not propaganda b.s.

[@philiplyapunov]

"honest"

[@MidngihtVisitor]

Still waiting for the "unbiased and raw" part you're talking about

[@AnonDoge]

@@MidngihtVisitor I mean the damage didn't appear out of thin air.... We all know who is doing this...

[@funbigly]

Did you love how the civilians are walking around in plain sight, while the Uke troops duck and cover inside buildings???

[@cronos1.2_sqrt5.2]

@@AnonDoge Obama? Nuland? Both?

[@atomic4650]

Honestly, massive respect for this kind of reporting, takes a lot of courage to get that close to the fighting.

[@anniecameron6794]

Try living in it daily its crazy

[@GP30277]

@@anniecameron6794because you would know

[@Cerbyo]

up close to THE REAR LINES? ok. more than don lemon at least

[@kwame176]

@@Cerbyo😂😂

[@psychologianiestacjonarna6558]

" Wounded Ukrainian soldiers are ferried to military hospitals " And the Russians (Wagners)... are crawling wave after wave over the bodies of the previous wave. Russia doesn't evacuate or care even about its own casualties, life has just a value of body meat...

[@Alonsel3]

To see her go back to her shelled apartment and seeing the emotions hit her in real time is truly the real front line civilian story.

[@robertokandal]

pack man w want to buy one

[@67ned]

And all of them speaking Russian language?!

[@levkotovskiy4981]

Yes, and it's sad. Because this indicates the imperial policy of ruzzia during the times of the ussr

[@dexterstudio480]

That old woman sentimnt of waiting for peace is so heartbreaking

[@princess0584]

Im from Philippines .just now i shed tears 😭😭😭😭..i met Ukrainian in my work she always cry .i piity her

[@fabianpillay860]

America doesn't like peace

[@tonybrown3192]

Huge respect to James André and Mayssa Awad and to France24 for their reporting here - this is the reality of this awful war. So much of the reporting is like we are seeing a sports match being played out with military and political pundits opining like its the World Cup or something, it's really grotesque. People are being ripped apart literally and figuratively and it shows absolutely no sign of stopping any time soon. Tragic.

[@Michael_Veritas]

@@robmoreno3094Correct they don’t want to report from Russian side. It’s much easier to lie from just Ukrainian side.

[@eimisavageofficial9196]

Lol shut.up...drunk boy

[@rachidsabil3873]

search for Patrick Lancaster if you want to see reportages from the other side

[@robertolang9684]

they failed to report and film the dead bodies in pieces of the soldiers ?

[@sujac664]

@@rachidsabil3873 I've heard consistently that he was a Kremlin picked and paid plant since they first invaded 2014... someone to cover over/muddy the truth of Russias conquest over Ukraine, for the western speakers... apparently there're quite a few of them for all major countries and audiences 🤔

[@unknownwarrior666]

Saddened me to see that lone old lady strolling along with her shopping trolley like nothing was wrong. Keep your heads held high your doing a grand job on the battlefield ❤️💙

[@rinatst.petersburg6511]

Question: when are you people going to admit this is nato artillery, not ukranian? I also hear people speak Russian language in the first minutes. That can tell us something...

[@levkotovskiy4981]

🤡 Кацап, харе спамити. Франція всеодно поставляє Цезарі і танки, як би ти не кукарікав тут

[@fada3399]

If you never been in that situation where you have to leave your home for nowhere, you're not going to get. It's sad!

[@VREmirate]

Yes. Humanitarian aid can find a nice apartment but for how long, 1 month, 6 months, 1year max? Also once you leave, no one will let you back in. It's a very difficult decision not to be taken lightly.

[@bigchiefmanagement8524]

City war is the most deadly war ever and I have been through this in my lifetime South Sudan 🇸🇸… I can truly feel their pain 😢

[@MilanDrazic]

Those propagandist don't care of south Sudan

[@edgzta]

Urban warfare is indeed very cruel.

[@user-xt5xl3hc9r]

А что тебе сделали суданцы?

[@4a4i4]

а что ты в судане делал

[@dejangamingytgameszaramoth1852]

You invaded that country? How come you aren't bad guy then?

[@lieschenmultikill5038]

French journalists are top notch/ first class. Our German reporting is not even a fraction as good as this! Awesone work!

[@jamesrivers8755]

Europe needs to engage The Russians/bring the devastation to Moscow!

[@jorgecorona9208]

This is the Best report I have seen this far, I got to see both sides of the coin as to the feelings of the people there. Thank you

[@ibrahimsaid5121]

I have experienced this kind of horrific situation since when i was young in my beloved country Somalia, it was hard and terrifying situation.

[@MrPeterPan]

Don’t worry, it’ll be bettter after the city is liberated. The west messed your country up too

[@alextyy]

BS, nobody invaded Somalia

[@ebonymaw8457]

@@alextyy there was still a war there, which is what he is talking about.

[@edmond8603]

@@alextyy So quick to jump you morrrron,

[@Habshoosh]

@@alextyy Civil war is even far worse than invasion, in terms of threat on people's lives & impact on their livelihood.

[@janweigel3058]

I feel like "what are you doing in this sector, it is being shelled" is one of the most badass things you can hear and document as a journalist

[@9UaYXxB]

The journalists aren't there to swagger. They're there out of a commitment to truth. Those are not mere words, they are living their belief system.

[@OSTemli]

Watch RT journalist, getting out from hotel rubble when struck by ukraine artillery. Goes out and sleep, no fear.

[@fordfokus9408]

FRIENDS, FRANCE❗UKRAINIANS NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN BAHMUT❗THANK YOU ✊

[@kriskross63]

If a journalist does not hear such questions, it is not a journalist

[@axiom1509]

This is bestiality, extreme exploitation of Ukrainian vassal.

[@seabound1350]

I really appreciate this kind of reporting, thank you 🙏

[@yosephmulu4435]

Thanks France 24 for sharing the updates from the ground.

[@unclesamautos]

Very good report not just lines on a map.

[@giovannirondon7412]

Great reporting. I felt like I was there for a few minutes. So much stress and sadness on their facial expressions.

[@user-le1rw5bf2q]

Молодцы клёвая постановка))) Максим: - Можно уже идти? Переводчик Максима: - пошли! Правда всё равно за нами.

[@3tektv646]

I like to hear the soldiers talk about their experiences, they tell the real stories and what is really happening.

[@TheClaudio7078]

There s channel on KZbin that have exactly that

[@rogerfournier3284]

Yep

[@shivanshna7618]

@@TheClaudio7078 channel name?

[@marcelschulz734]

Maby they forget the tortures pro-russians has to suffer by ukrainian facists.

[@muffinman4811]

This is honestly stellar reporting my god

[@danielarcadia7243]

yes ..will be used in military history lessons , as reported 10 % population remained ( proof of Darwinism not bright ) ... next time don't give population time to think ...rolling fire bombing .. giving time for ding bats to leave

[@515coldfire]

They just left the fact that ukronazis are the ines attacking civillians

[@pepelepew1227]

5:10 wow zelenskyy copying russian strategy

[@dunkey7739]

@@pepelepew1227ok

[@tugatgalut]

This is a tragedy. End the war. Peace. 🙏🙏

[@SCg64]

Pourquoi il n'y a t-il pas de sous-titres ?

[@korespodance2815]

wow, rare, excellent reporting on this tragic theatre of war that shows the complexity of the situation.

[@XXX3155]

This piece hit different. No one shows the civilians that are caught in all this - and honestly that was so impactful. That bit about the family hit me way too hard, there's no way that family will ever be whole ever again after this war

[@uilnosaj]

Civilians are just a by product, where were you when the US bombed a wedding in Afghanistan, Yeman and etc..

[@MihaiRUdeRO]

@@uilnosaj Where were you when Russia eradicated entire cities in Chechnya?

[@kentonian]

Never forget that Russia did much worse in Afghanistan and they didn’t have a 911

[@grahamt5924]

@@uilnosaj whataboutisim.

[@hithere7382]

@@grahamt5924 It's not so nice when it's used against you russian shill is it?

[@mohamedpatehbarry1827]

This video is straight unbiased,I hesitated to click it at first. Kudus to the media team I ve been longing to see footages from bahkmut but here I got a full, comprehensive video

[@ishadowmarshall282]

This was an excellent reporting from the front line. Bravo!!

[@zafarmalik9625]

I hope peace ✌️ will prevail and people will be living happily again war is bad anywhere the situation looks really bad at the moment

[@youreonlyadream]

wow amazing video! Thank you for bringing us inside and see whats its like. Much respect

[@65stang98]

this battle is gonna be one of the most famous in history being how long and how much coverage it has received.

[@sammearns428]

One of the most informative and honest reports since the war started. Let's pray the family reunite and work out their differences.

[@joaquinxy]

Today, Bakhmut is now being operationally encircled and there is one last road left to resupply. We thank you FRANCE24 for sticking their necks out to report the struggles of this fortress city.

[@kieronkilgannon8135]

street fighting is the most brutal i feel sorry for all involved

[@catdogmousecheese]

More brutal than trench warfare?

[@RazorMouth]

It's actually the least brutal of all types of warfare. Lots of protection with the buildings.

[@somedudeonline1936]

@@RazorMouth that means it's brutal because you have to get the enemy out of those buildings

[@RazorMouth]

@@somedudeonline1936 open field or desert warfare would be 10 times worse.

[@edwardd9702]

The WW2 Germans were the masters of maneuver warfare in the desert or the Russian steppe but urban fighting ate them up as it does everyone.

[@eastafricanforever3457]

Those civilians walking relaxed while shelling continues 🥺

[@williampenatac9832]

It’s so heart breaking! But Navajos also say “whoaaa bah!” And “what the!” Navajo Prayers from the US!

[@Lonely-Poland-Com]

The tragedy of wasted lives for such a senseless reason is heart-wrenching. My thoughts are with the young couple affected by this tragedy.

[@Honeybee897]

I pray day and night for this war to end. I am hurting, I am losing confidence in humanity. We have wars in Africa aswell but the atrocities are not known to the world.

[@teleguy5699]

We tend to relate to people we can identify with sadly. Plus, another sad thing is, this could go global with one misstep. A lot more riding on the outcome than civil wars in other nations.

[@NoName-ml5yk]

It's fascinating how little sense of self preservation some people have.

[@volodymyr3169]

Please elaborate

[@daventure]

@@volodymyr3169 he's probably referring to the citizens casualy walking the streets. Apparently not caring about the artillery going off in the area. I think... If you endure such cruelty everyday for a long span you get numb to it. Humans have an "amazing" ability to adapt in such situations

[@crazychase98]

@@daventure Is it really adapting though

[@agostinozara4488]

Good documentary for a french production...no bullish.. as usual but straight reality. Good work

[@soloar2007]

One of the best reports of the entire war thus far

[@paulvarn4712]

High quality reporting.

[@MegaStevie14]

Great reporting very informative and interesting

[@academicresearch2280]

Good reporting, many thanks.

[@saigonlovely3648]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Roses for the people of Ukraine and brave journalists.

[@aranireland]

Just incredible reporting. Thank you

[@joeenglishtv]

Great report from the front line!

[@impostor101]

Maan all my strength were drain after watching those wounded soldiers

[@crleeusa]

Near Zero spin. Awesome reporting. Thank you, am subscribing.

[@erolegario]

As an American, I empathize with the woman and her Dad. The US War of Independence was not supported entirely by everyone. There were many loyalists to the Crown. The lady referred to herself as a Patriot, while the older father held an ethnic and Soviet view. "Patriot"

[@Fantabiscuit]

Not Soviet. Only ethnic and religious belonging

[@michaelopoku4837]

Great reportage. The sad realities of war. I hope peace talks start soon.

[@marcogallostampino2063]

Povere persone,Signore Dio Onnipotente,ferma questa guerra e porta la Tua Pace nel mondo,abbi misericordia di noi e perdona i nostri peccato.Grazie.Amen🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️😞😞

[@danibass1085]

Non serve un cazzo pregare, Dio non esiste, è una invenzione fantasiosa dell'uomo

[@frantisekjanosik5339]

brave people..

[@elmerdancy2673]

These are the cleanest soldiers ever to come out of an active combat zone. 🤣😅🤣🤔🤫

[@virgiliustancu9293]

I don't think that half of those soldiers will survive until next week.

[@thewho5786]

Fighting will get intense in that area as soledar is already fallen.

[@charconiff949]

Thank you ❤❤

[@toguchina6159]

Thank you for your work

[@steveaksel]

The first group of troops they interview look so clean with helmets and gear that you would touch them a lot with your hands, everything is dirty around them but are still clean and new, freshly shaven, they don't look like they have been on the zero line very long. Very strange.

[@proto-nm9hr]

Fresh troops are rotated constantly due to the high casualty rates

[@proto-nm9hr]

@@LXT43 I am Ukrainian I lost a friend already in bakhmut

[@steveaksel]

@@proto-nm9hr You would think they would pull them back a few KM for rest but could they completely re-outfit them with new clothes and gear, have you seen what the guys in the trenches look like? you can't scrub that away with a week off in the rear.

[@mariiaaleksevych7360]

@@steveaksel those guys were not filmed in trenches. France 24 did not go to the trenches, the trenches in progress of creation is not on "zero point" obviously

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Peace and restoration to beautiful Ukraine people and country.

[@slobodanpopovic4358]

@F AMERICA kikiiukukikullllo

[@Jensth]

Great reporting! Brutal reality.

[@aaz3313]

Very good report, which emphasize, that peace is the most important for people.

[@leewilkinson8609]

So sad to see all this..this didn't have to happen. Hats off to he doctors and nurses and volunteers that risk their lives to help...real heroes..

[@LeeChunyendaniel]

Excellent portrayal of different aspects of the war, so keep it up !

[@kubek555]

incredibly brave for these volunteers to pick up people at the front line and take them to safety

[@kreeba5220]

Let peace return without delay The international community should intervene.

[@Travis26X]

Its amazing that anyone can get used to living under those circumstances

[@HouseholdDog]

Get to the negotiating table...

[@marcoperez2844]

Is the sound necessary in all your videos? The siren

[@wisemansifiso3382]

Good and brave reporting imdeed. I sentiment that people. ❤❤❤✌✌👍👍👍

[@smarkasmc]

Thank you for this documentary👍Слава Україні! 💙💛🌻

[@yankeehunter4726]

Z

[@WoolyJumper5]

Amazing piece, thanks France24.

[@demetriosilvadecarvalhocar3872]

Tradução pra o português ? Thank you

[@eoleleo]

thanks for this report

[@agustindejesus7398]

It is sad. How can anyone live like that....scare, unsecure, expecting the worth every day.

[@goranjeremic2775]

Made in USA.

[@agustindejesus7398]

@@goranjeremic2775 Gor, i thought it was....made in Japan.

[@DDCCO61]

When the old grey haired men are fighting then you know you are in trouble. The average of a soldier in Vietnam was nineteen.

[@rbs1997]

Thats when u know the country is facing an existential threat

[@antebratincevic6764]

I am living in southern Europe, Mediteranean coast, and I see every day guys 20 - 40 years old in new cars with Ukrainian license plates.

[@shupdawupidy]

When the old grey haired men are fighting then you know they are fighting for their home

[@RazorMouth]

@@antebratincevic6764 the ones who got out early or paid corrupt border guards to get out.

[@joisagirlsname]

And remind me...how did Vietnam turn out, again?

[@finn3102]

It is heartbreaking to see the elderly lady at 10:42 (upper right hand corner) walking alone in the middle of a war zone.

[@peteyspaletas2023]

God bless them.

[@josh77577]

These hospital with constant waves of wounded is working way smoother than the NHS.

[@ibrahimtouman2279]

no bureaucracy and tons of paperwork 😂

[@bintafaal-kohlschmidt1753]

Oh god pls stop this war 😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏

[@notsoeloquent]

Send the weapons.

[@peace-to-the-world]

There is a song written long time ago by ukrainian muscian called "Тарас Петриненко - Господи помилуй нас" with exact words in its content

[@highdraglowspeed402]

Can you enable Closed Captioning for those of us that are hearing impaired. Thanks.

[@rutgerolsen5157]

Will never understand why 20 year old civilians are not signing up while staying in Bakhmut

[@jonathanfoster2568]

Amazing reporting and many thanks for providing in English Merci 🙏

[@DanielMontezima]

That one was a good report according to me. Thanks FRANCE 24

[@harry48196]

Great reporting! It is difficult to see unbiased reporting like this one nowadays. Keep up the good work and be safe!

[@alcidineiantonioaraujo6698]

Força guerreiros ,pra espulsar o inimigo

[@branokrajcovic8863]

I can't understand why people with kids don't want to leave the city :/ :(

[@s.a.3894]

Maybe they wait for russians to come and liberate the city?

[@upupandaway5646]

Home

[@pepelepew1227]

low iq. i would have left the moment a foreign soldier step 1 foot in. fighting for a corrupt country isnt worth it and democracy will simply defund the veterans anyway.

[@_bbie]

Some financially incapable

[@seeyouseemee3863]

They want to die

[@stalinism6022]

Brilliant and unbiased report. Amazing.

[@miriamweller812]

Looks a bit too much faked for that and of course they ignore the people of Donbass as usual who get slaughtered by these Nazis France 24 only focusses on since eight years.

[@pepelepew1227]

brilliant strike mate

[@danielk8149]

Unbelievable bias but ok

[@stalinism6022]

@@chewpchewp9670 I don't think they have permission to interview Russian soilders.

[@GSoulUA]

@@stalinism6022 France 24 were under threat to loose Russian license, but it's unclear. Anyway they will almost certainly break Ukrainian laws, trying to get to other side

[@protossdrew7]

“No work, no money, its cold, we’re hungry.” Lol 💯 It was like this in Bahkmut before the war. Its literally always been like that.

[@levkotovskiy4981]

Are you dumb?

[@saccorhytus]

Imagine it almost sound like a constant thunder storm for weeks or months

[@swany001]

This is the sad part of any war , The inocent civilians that have to suffer because of polititions and politics' who are pretty warm and safe miles away from any danger.

[@Boopathydubai]

It is a proxy war.

[@kriskross63]

The question is: how ‚innocent‘ are civilians who elected this government?

[@user-vp5vj3yy7d]

Please use blur in the next videos. We are talking about people's lives, as locations can be easily tracked

[@hatecrewsix2]

SBU are like gestapo

[@hotrodjones74]

The most dangerous retaliation is from the Ukrainian government and the Azov battalion for saying something "unpatriotic". The father and two boys who are pro-Russian are in the greatest danger.

[@ibrahimtouman2279]

This report is delayed 1 month, positions have changed since then!

[@pechpunlorksourn1561]

Let's fight for peace and independence

[@1Chitus]

The other stories made Bakmut seem like a tiny village, but we can see here it's a big city. It really shows just how devastating and destructive the fighting is. This invasion is so senseless and cruel.

[@FreedomAlternativeRO]

@@user-yv3lg1jx4l Пять рублей.

[@user-dk4sm7eb8h]

No one is interested in why all this is happening, how much grief people have experienced over the past eight years in the Donbas. Everyone is sorry for Ukrainians, only their president is not sorry for them

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

I wish people said the same thing when USA invaded Iraq and Afghanistan.

[@9UaYXxB]

Such courageous committed journalism. I am just totally humbled.

[@necamilosavljevic8722]

courageous committed journalism hahahahahaah

[@Ryan-mf2rg]

If it was unedited.

[@kwame176]

Old video, but good. Thanks for sharing.

[@jfkbrigade1650]

Ukrainian soldiers pulled up to the badass journalists & said " what are you doing here? it's being shelled! " lol much respect... they could be hit any minute but they are still there... prayers for the crew and prayers especially for the brave Ukrainian people.

[@josephroessler7724]

My prayers are with the Ukrainian people and realized that people have it a lot worse problems than I do "God Please protect theses people and keep them safe ""