Battle of Bakhmut
Starting on 17 May, Russian forces began bombarding Bakhmut. This killed five people including a two-year-old child. After the fall of Popasna on 22 May, Ukrainian forces left the city to help soldiers at Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russian forces moved forward on the Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway. This put the remaining Ukrainian troops in the Lysychansk-Sievierodonetsk area in danger. The Russian checkpoint on the highway was later destroyed. Fighting continued on 30 May on the Kostiantynivka-Bakhmut highway. Ukrainian forces were able to defend the highway.