a ukrainian military commander in the shattered eastern town of bakhmut has described to the bbc the fierceness of the fighting there. he said he hadn t seen russian forces fight anywhere else with similar determination, advancing under fire even when the ground was littered with their comrades bodies. a us official has said russian forces have made incremental advances around the town, with mercenaries from the russian paramilitary wagner group heavily involved in the assault. the battle has been described as a meat grinder with high numbers of casualties on both sides. almost all of the city s 70,000 occupants have fled. russia is working hard to capture bakhmutin the hope it could lead to the fall of sloviansk and kramatorsk as well, the two most important cities in the donbas still under ukrainian control. but ukrainian forces are holding firm. the bbc s yogita limaye reports from the city. munitons explode. this is what the merciless bombardment of a city looks like.
the sound of artillery fire. you can tell every minute that this is a city that is being intensely fought over. we start here in the uk, where the prime minister rishi sunak has set out his priorities for 2023 in his first major speech of the year. let s have a listen to some of what he had to say. first, we will have inflation this year to ease the cost of living and give people financial security. second, we will grow the economy, creating better paid jobs and opportunity right across the country. third, we will make sure our national debt is falling so that we can secure the future of public services. fourth, nhs waiting lists will fall, and people will get the kjaer they need more quickly. fifth, we will pass new laws to stop small boats, sunak making sure that if you come to this country sunak illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed. rishi sunak spent the first few weeks of his premiership last autumn trying to restore stability after the turmoil of liz truss go
and our other main story tonight. a special report from bakhmut in eastern ukraine the site of fierce fighting from which almost all the city s residents have fled. we are walking over shards of glass. pretty much every second you hear the sound of artillery fire. you can tell every minute this city is being intensely fought over. sir. tell every minute this city is being intensely fought over. intensely fought over. sir, you do not have the intensely fought over. sir, you do not have the votes intensely fought over. sir, you do not have the votes and intensely fought over. sir, you do not have the votes and it s - intensely fought over. sir, you do not have the votes and it s time l intensely fought over. sir, you do| not have the votes and it s time to withdraw not have the votes and it s time to withdraw. ., ., , ,, ., , , withdraw. chaos in the us congress as republican withdraw. chaos in the us congress as republican rebels withdraw. chaos in the us congress
the two most important cities in the donbas still under ukrainian control. but ukrainian forces are holding firm. the bbc s yogita limaye reports from the city. munitons explode. this is what the merciless bombardment of a city looks like. munitions explode. and how it sounds. explosions echo. once a quiet place known for sparkling wine, bakhmut is now a byword for war, and ukraine s resistance. russia is using all its might to try and take this city. we drove past abandoned buildings. 90% of the people have fled. this is what you can see everywhere in bakhmut destruction. 0n the other side of the road you, can see apartment blocks that are completely destroyed. we re walking all over shards of glass, pretty much every second you hear the sound of artillery fire.