Watch: Ukraine releases footage showing its soldiers fighting Russian forces in Bakhmut
Ukraine's border guard service has released footage showing its members fighting Russian forces in Bakhmut.
Russian forces have stepped up heavy artillery bombardments and air strikes on the Ukrainian city, with Ukraine saying that "in some places, the occupiers and the Ukrainian military are only a few meters apart".
Earlier in the week, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) intelligence update reported that there was a "realistic possibility" Russia had reduced troop numbers around Donetsk city to focus on the battle for Bakhmut.
Fighting has continued in and around Bakhmut in the Donetsk region for months, with Ukrainian forces holding out despite regular claims by Russia to have taken the city.
Ukraine's border guard service said: "Despite significant losses, Russian forces continue to storm the city, slowly moving forward. The confrontation moved to the central part of the city.
"The fighting in the dense urban development takes place at minimal distances. In some places, the occupiers and the Ukrainian military are only a few meters apart, which complicates the defense."
Bakhmut, which was once home to about 70,000 people, has been largely blasted to ruins following months of intense fighting.
If Russian forces do capture Bakhmut, it is widely believed that it could provide a stepping stone for an advance on two bigger cities it has long coveted in the Donetsk region, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Last week it was reported that Russia had re-energised its assault on the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut with "improved co-operation" with the mercenary group, Wagner.
State of Play in Ukraine
Western officials believe that Russia has now sent 180,000 troops to Ukraine since the outbreak of war.
They also believe that Russia has suffered very high casualties, forcing them to now be backfilled with mobilised troops.
According to Western officials, barracks in eastern Russia are empty, with all the troops and kits being sent to Ukraine.
However, it is believed that if Moscow went to a war footing, it could still mobilise more troops but the Kremlin is hesitant to do so because of public sentiment.
Battle for air superiority
It is believed by Western officials that Russia still does not have air superiority, due to the country implementing risk-averse and stand-off munitions instead.
The Russian ability to degrade Ukraine's air defences is still believed to be largely ineffective.
It has also been reported that large-scale attacks with cruise missiles have even ceased for a while, providing the Ukrainians with breathing space.
Western officials also say that Russian airborne forces, or VDV, were "decimated" with much of the leadership being incapacitated, backfilled with untested mobilised troops.
Russia is reportedly building defensive lines using military and private contractors along the 1200km frontline, leaving its troops spread thinly.
Western officials do believe, however, that the Russians are stockpiling Iranian attack drones for use later, possibly during any counteroffensive.
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