Avenue combating is raging round Bakhmut and the Ukrainian metropolis is “virtually destroyed” — however Russian forces haven’t seized full management, its deputy mayor mentioned Saturday. Ukrainian forces appeared to nonetheless maintain some elements of the jap metropolis, regardless of claims by pro-Kremlin forces that they’d encircled the city, The Washington Put up reported earlier. If Russian forces seize the town, it could give Moscow a symbolic triumph after months of fierce combating and heavy casualties.