and here is bakhmut in the eastern donetsk region. what were was arable farming land now looks like an image from the somme. and this is the city of bakhmut today. these are aerial pictures that show the scale of the destruction buildings burnt out, plumes of smoke. they are the same sort of tactics the russian military has employed in chechny and in syria, where very little was left standing. let s speak to retired colonel brendan kearney. he spent more than 30 years in the us marines and is now a military affairs analyst. he joins us live from santa rosa in california. thank you very much for being with again on the programme. these images really demonstrate the strategy that russia has employed, and notjust in this conflict. russia has employed, and not ust in this conflict. this conflict. they really do, and it de . icts this conflict. they really do, and it depicts tangibly this conflict. they really do, and it depicts tangibly the this conflict. they really do, and it de