New Russian offensive appears underway in Ukraine

STORY: As the anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine nears, Russian forces pounded the city of Bakhmut on Monday, in what NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said was the beginning of a major, long-feared new offensive:

"The reality is we have seen the start already because we see now what Russia does now - President Putin does now - is to send thousands and thousands more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty."

Military officials said Ukrainian defenders, who have held on for months, were braced for new ground attacks.

Bakhmut is a prime objective for Russian President Vladimir Putin and its capture would give Russia a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after several months of setbacks.

Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbas, Ukraine's industrial heartland now partially occupied by Russia, which wants full control.

The assault on Bakhmut has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, who have made small but steady gains. The renewed Russian bombardments made the situation there even more acute.

The Ukrainian military reported Russian shelling all along the frontline and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut, including the frontline village of Chasiv Yar, where volunteers worked to evacuate families, while Ukrainian fighters held their ground despite difficult weather.

Unit commander Anton Fedorenko called the territory "home".

"That's why we are holding on to it by nails and teeth and will stay here. And we hope that we will be provided with weapons, we will have something to respond with. And we will be able to launch a counteroffensive. As soon as the weather allows it because now we cannot move forward, even if we have the weapons to do so, because of the soil and weather conditions."

The United Nations' human rights office said on Monday that it had recorded More than seven thousand civilian deaths and nearly 12,000 injured since the Feb. 24 invasion, mostly from shelling and missile and air strikes, but said it believed the actual figure was much higher.

Stoltenberg said he saw no sign that Putin was preparing for peace, or willing to respect Ukraine's sovereignty.

"What we see is that President Putin and Russia still want to control Ukraine and therefore the only way to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign nation, is to continue to provide military support to Ukraine."

Stoltenberg said NATO allies were now beginning to consider sending aircraft to help in Ukraine's defense, saying help is urgently needed.