control of the eastern city to moscow s army. the battle for bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest of the war. this aerialfootage taken earlier this month shows intense shelling in a residential area. most people fled before fighting broke out. bakhmut is of little strategic value, but its capture would be a symbolic victory for russia. the battle for bakhmut began last august. ukraine says its forces still control part of it. our bbc verify team has been looking at images that show the extent of the destruction there during these months of fighting. this is bakhmut before russia invaded ukraine. once famous for its sparkling wine and thousands of rose bushes. this is bakhmut now reduced to a landscape of ruin and death. but not defeated, the ukrainian army told us. ukrainian troops stay in south western part of bakhmut. ukrainian army keep pushing the enemy from site of the city. 70,000 people used to live here before russia s full scale invasion of ukraine. i was her
week. the belarus leader alexander lukashenko said the transfer of tactical nuclear weapons from russia to belarus has started. what do you think that signals right now about moscow s strategy? obviously this is a scare moscow s strategy? obviously this is a scare tactic. - moscow s strategy? obviously this is a scare tactic. if - moscow s strategy? obviously this is a scare tactic. if the - this is a scare tactic. if the russians wanted to use nuclear weapons to hit ukraine, they could do so now. they don t need to move them to belarus. it s a way of demonstrating they have them. it may also be a way of defending the leader of belarus. there is enormous discontent in that country, this war is not popular there, and belarus is effectively an ally of putin. i think it s a sign that they feel under threat, they are worried about the coming counteroffensive. it s a pr game designed to scare people. it s a pr game designed to scare maple- it s a pr game designed to scare eole. ., , sca
russia. obviously, the fear is that the russians may say, look, these areas are now part of russia and any attack on those areas will be seen as an attack on russia. last night, president zelensky said if russia goes ahead with any kind of announcement in terms of annexation of territory, the international community will be announcing tough measures. we heard from the biden administration but more sanctions could be imposed on russia if moscow goes ahead with the annexation of ukrainian territory. earlier today, we heard from the british ministry of defence, saying that there is a real possibility that president putin may use a speech on friday to parliament to announce the formal. formally to announce the annexation of those areas of ukraine by russia. thank you very much. the state funeral of japan s assassinated former prime minister, shinzo abe, has been taking place in tokyo. many world leaders are