Heavy fighting north of Bakhmut as Russian forces push to take town

Smoke rises north of Bakhmut close to Soledar, eastern Ukraine, where heavy fighting is taking place as Russian forces try to capture the town.

The defence of the village of Paraskoviivka, located north of Bakhmut, is "very strong", according to a senior sergeant who warns that "there can be an operational encirclement of Bakhmut" if the Russian forces take the village and block the road to the town.