It is a protracted, nervy and treacherous stroll to the frontline trenches round Bakhmut.
As we make our approach by woodland, the struggle crashes and booms round us.
Although Ukraine has made small features within the open floor across the flanks, its maintain inside the town is wanting more and more determined.
Ukraine war latest live as soldiers uncover drones
Russia has captured no less than 95% of the buildings and remains to be pushing ahead.
To get to the defensive positions outdoors the primary metropolis means leaving cowl and traversing farmland.
Russian drones are searching for motion - targets for his or her artillery.
As we transfer we hear shells screeching overhead after which the heart-thumping second they smash into the bottom only a few hundred metres away.
In the trenches, the troopers are hardened to the hazards - and from right here you possibly can see the town up shut.
Bakhmut seems like a imaginative and prescient from a nightmare.
The buildings are simply blackened bones of a spot the place folks used to reside.
On the horizon, we witness a smoking wreck of rubble and demise.
If it falls will probably be a pyrrhic victory for Moscow - they've misplaced tens of 1000's of troopers right here.
But will probably be a serious navy and psychological blow for Ukraine nonetheless - Kyiv has invested an enormous quantity in its defence.
Read extra on the battle for Bakhmut:Ukrainian city a smoking ruin as Russians forced back in disarrayThe battle of Bakhmut is not about seizing vital ground
'We will combat to the tip'
From a lined place we watch as shell after shell is unleashed on this metropolis underneath siege.
Bakhmut has seen the fiercest city fight of wherever on the earth because the Second World War.
The males who're its defenders inform us they're solely holding on. But they won't surrender.
One soldier tells me: "We are on our land and we will protect this land.
"We have an awesome motivation, a really nice motivation, to guard our land.
"And I think that the enemy understands that we will fight to the end."
Further alongside the frontline is the town of Chasiv Yar and with Russia controlling almost all of Bakhmut, it might be subsequent.
From the window of a shattered residence block, the troops right here present me the place Vladimir Putin's forces are transferring.
Use the sliders under to see Maxar satellite tv for pc photographs of Bakhmut 12 months in the past in comparison with at this time
'It's a scary scenario'
The crisp spring day is fractured by the thunderous sound of shells exploding close by.
Large plumes of smoke mushroom over the tree line.
Ukraine's main counteroffensive could not have began however the preventing stays intense.
At the command centre, they know the large push is looming - however till it begins they have to preserve Russia from advancing additional.
It just isn't straightforward.
The Deputy Section Commander, Andriy, speaks candidly concerning the actuality of this grinding battle.
"Enemy forces attack our positions every day, night and day... we fight for all the power we have, and I don't know - it's actually a very difficult and scary situation."
This struggle is exacting a horrible value on Ukraine.
Every constructing is battered - and it is getting worse
The most savage preventing, within the Donbas, has pressured the bulk from their properties - right here shells land in streets with out warning.
As we drive we see a car on fireplace. It's simply been hit by artillery.
Every constructing is battered.
And Moscow's indiscriminate use of violence is getting worse.
It's changing into a nightly prevalence - cities and cities are being hit with barrages of missiles and drones.
In Kramatorsk, we see frightened folks clearing up after a big bomb exploded of their neighbourhood in the course of the evening.
There's no navy goal right here - simply residence blocks - and civilians who're terrified.
Valentyna was sleeping on the time of the explosion.
She tells me: "I trembled, could not stand up, and take at least one step. I was shaking.
"My son dragged me into the toilet. When we left, there was mud all over the place - horrible."
Each day in Ukraine brings extra carnage and every day this struggle goes on there's rather less hope.
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