Newsday - Ukraine war: 'My hometown a grave for defenders and civilians' - BBC Sounds

While the war in Ukraine reaches it's first anniversary, the fighting is far from over with Ukraine saying its forces had repelled Russian assaults along the length of the front line on Thursday, including at the Russian target city of Bakhmut.

Olena Cherkryzhova is from Bakhmut and teaches English to Ukrainian soldiers before they go to the front line. She says English helps them understand and operate modern military equipment and when they are trained abroad.

Olena tells us Bakhmut used to be a picturesque city famous for its wine making and is now what she calls a "bloody wound on the map of Ukraine, a symbol of Ukrainian resistance that she is really proud of." She says it's heart breaking to see her city, including her home and school, devastated by Russian missiles and to realise it has become a "grave for so many brave Ukrainian defenders and civilians that used to be her friends." Our main task now she says, is " to fight, to struggle, to unite within Ukraine and also to cooperate with western allies against the brutal aggressor "and clear it from Ukraine's land.