Russia Escalates Attack on Bakhmut Area as Kyiv Warns New Offensive Is Imminent

BACHMUT, Ukraine—Russia escalated attacks on a town near the disputed city of Bakhmut on Saturday as it sought to cut off Ukrainian supply routes and besiege the city, while Ukrainian officials warning of a major new Russian attack in the coming weeks.

Inside Bakhmut, gunfire echoed from the east side of the river that bisected the city. Ukrainian soldiers say waves of Russian troops are entering from the east and that the two pontoon bridges over the river that were attacked this week are only walkable. The Ukrainians say they are fighting for block by block, but are outnumbered and outnumbered, and Russian troops are slowly taking over territory in the city.