The temperatures are effectively below freezing and spindles of snow swirl across the roads as gusts of icy wind slash like a million knives across the landscape. 

But even in the depth of winter there is no permit-up in the battling, and in and close to the salt mining town of Soledar it is particularly intense.

Armoured motor vehicles occupation backwards and forwards to the gates of the metropolis where by they lay down significant machine gun hearth on an advancing enemy.

The leader of the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, statements to have taken the town but the Ukrainian soldiers we spoke to say it is however being bitterly contested.

The sky around Soledar is clouded with smoke and the floor shakes with the incessant thud of artillery.

In hidden positions on the outskirts, Ukrainian drone operators acquire intelligence as shells whistle overhead.

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Mykola, an aged resident who has remained in Soledar

Bohdan, one of the drone workforce denies that Russia has captured the city.

“The men are keeping their situation in Soledar, the Russians want to encompass it through the flanks but the men keep the defence, no person is retreating due to the fact it is our land,” he explained.

On his cellphone he displays us new footage taken of Russian troops the image is grainy but you can make out a soldier dragging an hurt comrade to safety.

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But nowhere is safe listed here, with equally sides having hefty casualties. This war is unrelentingly grim. The shell-shocked civilians trapped in the middle exist in constant danger. And there is certainly not a lot hope as the frontline moves nearer.

“How can I say something is Alright? You can see by by yourself. The home is destroyed, all the things is smashed – you can find no gasoline, no drinking water and no electricity.”

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Navy orthopedic surgeon, Andriy Zholob, has been managing Ukrainian casualties

At the medical center in Kramatorsk some of the wounded from the entrance get there for crisis procedure. Quite a few have really serious accidents. They are normally participating with their enemy at distances of just 30 metres.

Armed service orthopedic surgeon, Andriy Zholob, suggests it is a testomony to just how rigorous the preventing has turn into for the town.

“It can be close beat, we have gunshot [wounds], we have grenade shrapnel wounds and so on, so this type of wounds enhanced.”

“It is really a kind of hell”

Russian forces have, although, taken a great deal of the town – and if they do gain it it will be the initially victory for Vladimir Putin’s forces in months following many armed service setbacks.

But it will have occur at an huge price in lives.