MOSCOW: The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated further, as Moscow announced on Thursday that its forces were blocking Ukrainian troops from moving in or out of the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut.
In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that its airborne troops were supporting advancing assault troops and preventing the transfer of Ukrainian army reserves to the city.
According to the statement, Russian forces are also making it impossible for Ukrainian units to retreat from the area.
Bakhmut, located in eastern Ukraine, has been a hotbed of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists since the start of the conflict in 2014.
Conflict between Ukraine and Russia
In response to the Russian statement, Ukraine’s defence ministry has accused Moscow of violating international law and undermining efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The ministry also called on Russia to “cease its aggressive actions” and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Earlier, two videos have emerged on social media in the past week, purportedly showing Ukrainian soldiers being beheaded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the perpetrators as “beasts” and vowed to hold them accountable.
The first video was posted on a pro-Russian social media channel on April 8 and appeared to show the beheaded dead bodies of two Ukrainian soldiers lying on the ground beside a damaged military vehicle.
The second video was posted on Twitter and appeared to have been filmed during the summer. The authenticity of both videos has not been independently confirmed.
Some pro-Russian social media accounts have suggested Ukrainian forces were responsible for the beheadings, but Ukrainian officials have dismissed these claims as part of a psychological operation aimed at intimidation.
