Battle over Bahkmut continues in Eastern Ukraine

Overseas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met today with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling on Russia to extend the deal allowing Ukraine to export through the Black Sea. In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops may be on the verge of taking the city of Bakhmut. CBS's MTS Diab reports tonight from that embattled region. If Bakhmut falls, it will be Russia's first major territorial gain after seven hellish months of fighting. Small towns and villages lie in ruins, like Velika Novysilka, once home to over 5,000, fewer than 150 remain, and now live underground at a school. It's not long before we hear shelling. So there's a lot of incoming and outgoing here.

And this is the only safe place for the people left in this town. Inside it's dark. Mostly the elderly live here, without electricity or running water. There are so few comforts they have to grind their own meat. Adina Babgina is among the youngest. She sent her children away to live with relatives months ago, but still can't bring herself to go. People here need my help, she says, and they can't leave, so that's why I stay.

Whoever can pitches in anything for some normalcy, but so little about this place is normal. Oleksandr Sinkov moved in a year ago after his home was destroyed. You've built a small community here. How important is it for all of you to be here together? All we can do is hold on to each other, he says. We're like family now. Whatever their reasons are for staying, most here live in fear. Leaving could be worse.

Now Bakhmut may take center stage, but make no mistake, across eastern Ukraine, this grinding war rages on. Margaret. MTS, thank you.

russia, bahkmut, ukrain, invasion, war