FLASH
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Russia's attempt to capture the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has taken a heavy toll on Putin, as more than 60,000 soldiers have lost their lives on the battlefield.
According to a Western official the total number of Russian casualties now exceeds 200,000 and there are signs that Ukraine may launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks. Last month, Russia declared its success in capturing Bakhmut after a nearly year-long battle.
" We estimate that the capture of Bakhmut likely cost Russia at least 60,000 casualties in that Bakhmut-Popasna sector during the year-long battle ," the official said.
Regarding the estimated breakdown of the killed and wounded, they estimate that it is at least one third of the killed. They echoed a number of observers who have described Bakhmut as "not strategically important" in terms of the wider conflict.
" In Bakhmut, we now estimate that Ukrainian elements have withdrawn from the main built-up area of the city. We are seeing the Wagner [mercenary] forces in the process of retreating, at least for now. "Replacing these elements of the force is an important commitment of Russia's already overstretched regular forces ," he said.
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