The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated that in the war-ravaged city of Bakhmut, every 48cm of terrain seized by Russia comes with the toll of a soldier either wounded or killed.

This chilling estimate underscores the immense human cost Russia is paying for their territorial advancements.

In a recent statement, the MoD disclosed that Russia had managed to push its frontlines around 29km, but it has resulted in a staggering “up to 60,000 casualties since May 2022”. This rate of attrition indicates a harsh reality for Russian troops on the ground.

The MoD further elucidated on Russia’s initial plans for the region, stating in a released video, “In February 2022, Russia likely planned to complete the capture of the whole of the Donbas region within 10-14 days. But in Bakhmut, for every 48cm gained, one of its soldiers has been killed or wounded.”

This grim measurement presents a stark contrast to Russia’s initial predictions.

Moreover, the city of Bakhmut, a strategic objective in Russia’s war plan, has seen a dramatic plunge in its population.

The MoD states that the city “is now home to just 1% of the pre-war population of 70,000”. In the wake of this devastation, the city’s remaining inhabitants grapple with dire living conditions, having “no access to power, water or heating”.

The distressing state of Bakhmut serves as a haunting symbol of the ongoing conflict.

Lisa West
Lisa has a degree in Media & Communication from Glasgow Caledonian University and works with industry news, sifting through press releases in addition to moderating website comments.

22 COMMENTS

  1. Glory to Ukraine. Hope the Russians push even more into the area so it becomes another Stalingrad, with the boot on the other foot this time as UKR make gains on the flanks.

    • I think the Russiam Army needs to about-face before the party really gets started.

      And more good news for Ukraine.

      02 JUNE 2023
      Ukraine to receive Starlink services under US deal
      LINK

    • Sounds like Bilhorod is turning into a bit of a quagmire for Russia too…
      And apparently Pirogi’s Wagners and the Russian Army have been shooting at eachother again.

      • Yes, along parts of the Belgorod border areas. Assume all part of “preparing the battlespace” before their counter offensive by disrupting the rear areas?

        • My error, thought your phone had misspelt Belgorod for “Bilhorod” 😆
          That is not an area I was familiar with, just seen your post and map further down.

          • Bilhorod is just the Ukranian spelling of Belgorod
            Ukr: Білгород vs Rus: Белгород

          • Oh! So I was on the right track then. I typed that name in and a map showed the Odessa area, so thought you meant something on the Moldovia side. Sorry for my mix up.

  2. P!sh poor that is.

    1 dead Russian every square inch would have made better reading.

    The best Russian is a dead Russian.

  3. As the war moves across the border to Belgorod with the Freedom of Russia Brigades and the Russian Volunteer Corps taking ground and prisoners, the head of Wagner is threatening to move his mercenary forces to the region to “defend Russia”

    Note that the crossborder action in Belgorod is forcing Russia to redeploy forces away from UkR to the region, so the train and highway network inside Russia becomes an easy target

    UK, Germany and the Baltic states have given the green light for the use of our systems against legitimate targets inside Russia, the USA and a number of other countries led by France have withheld permission.

    UkR attacks on Russian logistics and command have ramped up massively in the past 10 days – the counteroffensive is now in progress but the decisive strike is being held until the battlespace has been perfectly shaped to the satisfaction of the high command, who have performed flawlessly so far.

    And all the while Emperor Xi of China – Putin’s “friend without limits” is standing by, watching and waiting, with his eye on a huge swathe of Siberia that he has long coveted…..

    Slava Ukraini !! May the gods of war favour their offensive !!

    • Tell you what, the strikes inside Russia by Ukrainian forces is very interesting from a chess board prospective. For those who haven’t heard elements of a so-called Russian unit fighting for the Ukraine have crossed the border below Belgorod and have started running riot behind Russian lines, spreading much fear and confusion, (Think Long Range Desert Group in Northern Africa) from what I have heard the Russians have started redeploying units from inside the Ukraine back into Russia in which to try and reassure the local population that they have things under control. (The media coverage of the strikes has seen a huge populace exodus, and mass looting) The thing is the Ukrainians have only advanced a few miles into Russia, knocking out power substations , taking Russian POW and demanding that the Belgorod governor meet them to secure their release (he has agreed) but the way the Russian media (esp Social media) is selling this is striking fear amongst the locals and outrage across Russia.

      The small part in red is where the Ukrainians (Moscow is claiming they are Poles, which Warsaw has rejected) have advanced into Russia.
      https://i.postimg.cc/5N2Q15M8/Opera-Snapshot-2023-06-04-185523-www-google-com.png

          • The video of those Russian POW a move i can only surmise is aimed more at the Russian popualtion than anything else.

          • I have seen video on Sky News tonight apparently showing civilians being evacuated from Belgorod. At last Putin is getting a taste of his own medicine. How far from Moscow is Belgorod?

      • https://i.imgur.com/h6KMLgl.jpeg
        Russia doesn’t seem to be having that much luck around the Bilhorod Peoples Republic these days.

        Then again, the Ukranians apparently are back in Bakhmut, attacking south, and the Wagners and VKS are shooting at each other.
        Open question: Is the reason Russia doesn’t want to deploy Wagner against the BNR because then the Russian Army would be the 3rd best Army in Russia?

  4. If a correct assessment, it’s oh dear how sad never mind! Also known as a learning curve! Good job, well done to the Ukrainian people.

  5. First Day of the Somme type casualties where we lost 60,000 casualties. I dont think Putin will care. He is protecting the Russian city dwellers by using of the ex criminals of the Wagner Group and the border regions.
    West should go onto a very increased level of war materials production and a no fly zone over Ukraine.

  6. This is the casualty rate we must expect when fighting a total war against an enemy who is just as well equipped for it as you are. The Russians won the Battle of Bakhmut, which makes their losses acceptable to them. The Ukrainians will most likely be aware of the fact that reconquering their lost territory will cost as much in killed or wounded soldiers per mile gained, mainly in the strategically important areas.
    Lists of men wounded in action will also include relatively minor injuries which needed evacuation of a soldier from the battlefield, but from which they can fully recover. This could take the form of sprained ankles, trench foot, recurring attacks of malaria (i.e. Wagner soldiers who have served in Africa), hypothermia, shrapnel wounds etc.
    Read any account of major battles the British Army fought in WWII – the closest comparison we have to this war – and you will find a similar butcher’s bill. One regiment I read about had more casualties whilst in the line per day during the 1944-45 NW Europe campaign than when they were last there in the Great War.

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