Gripping satellite images show Putin’s destruction of Bakhmut

By James On May 19, 2023

Gripping satellite imagery shows Putin’s destruction of Bakhmut as Ukraine battles Wagner and Russian forces for control of the city

The images were collected by Maxar Technologies, a space technology company
The remains of apartment buildings, schools and a church can be seen

By Josh White

published: 22:12 BST, 18 May 2023 | Updated: 01:54 BST, 19 May 2023

New satellite images have revealed the devastation of Bakhmut, where Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to battle for control of the city.

The photos, collected last week, starkly illustrate the results of months of fighting and near-constant bombing.

The remains of apartment buildings, schools, the local university and a church can be seen – all now roofless ruins in a muddy wasteland, but once neatly maintained and set amongst attractive greenery.

The images were collected by Maxar Technologies, a space technology company based in the United States.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the notorious Wagner mercenary group and an increasing thorn in the side of his Kremlin paymasters, yesterday accused regular Russian army units of fleeing the desolate location and leaving his men dangerously unprotected.

Bakhmut school and apartment buildings on May 8, 2022. Images collected by Maxar Technologies

Demolished Bakhmut School and smoldering apartment buildings on May 15, 2023

He said Russian troops had fallen back 570 meters north of the eastern Ukrainian city, exposing the flanks of his own fighters, in his latest complaint about his own side’s conduct in the war.

Prigozhin, who has berated Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in foul-mouthed video messages, again asked the ministry to do everything possible to protect Bakhmut after an alleged withdrawal.

“Unfortunately, Russian Defense Ministry units have withdrawn to 570 meters north of Bakhmut, exposing our flanks,” Prigozhin said in a voice message.

In this handout image from a video released by Prigozhin Press Service on May 12, 2023, Head of Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a video statement from an unknown location

“I appeal to the top of Defense – in public – because my letters are not being read.

“Please don’t give up the flanks,” he told Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff.

Wagner still claims it took most of the destroyed city – albeit at a huge human cost. But Ukraine says its forces have recaptured the area around Bakhmut in recent days.

Moscow sees Bakhmut, a city of about 70,000 before the war, as a potential stepping stone to conquering the rest of the eastern industrial Donbas region bordering Russia.