Vladimir Putin has been hit by another setback after the US compared the “stunning” number of troops Russia has lost fighting in a single town in eastern Ukraine to those America suffered in a major World War 2 battle. The US has said more than 20,000 of his country’s troops have been killed in fighting since December. Another 80,000 have been wounded in battle, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who cited newly declassified intelligence. Half of those killed are from the Wagner Group, who have been involved in leading brutal attacks in Bakhmut.
The toll in the small eastern city accounts for losses since the start of December, according to the US figures.
Kirby compared the devastating Russian losses fighting for a single town in eastern Ukraine to what the US suffered in the Battle of the Bulge at the end of World War 2.
He said: “Russia’s attempt at an offensive in the Donbas [region] largely through Bakhmut has failed. Russia has been unable to seize any real strategic and significant territory.
“We estimate that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties, including over 20,000 killed in action.
“The bottom line is that Russia’s attempted offensive has backfired after months of fighting and extraordinary losses.”
Kirby added: “Russia lost more troops fighting for one town in eastern Ukraine than the US suffered in the Battle of the Bulge at the end of the Second World War.”
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive on the Western Front, lasting for five weeks towards the end of World War 2 in Europe. The US suffered 81,000 casualties, including at least 8,400 that were killed.
The National Security Council spokesman would not provide estimates of Ukrainian casualties because “they are the victims here. Russia is the aggressor”.
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Russia has been desperately trying to take Bakhmut over recent months, but it appears the failed efforts have come at an eye-watering cost.
Moscow still holds most of of the small eastern city, but resilient Ukrainian troops remain in control of a small portion of the city in the west.
If Russia was to succeed in capturing Bakhmut, it would edge Putin’s troops closer to its goal of controlling the whole of Donetsk region – a key battlefield in the brutal war in Ukraine.
This is one of a quartet of regions in the east and south of the country annexed by Russia last September following referendums that were condemned by many critics as a sham.
The Wagner Group, which is known for using convicts in fighting, has become the focal point of the Russian assault on Bakhmut.
But an explosive row has erupted with Moscow with its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin recently threatening to withdraw his fighters if they were not provided with much-needed ammunition by the Russian defence ministry.
In what would be a huge blow to Putin plans in Ukraine, he warned Wagner fighters could be deployed to Mali.
This is the latest in a series of clashes with Russia’s defence ministry during the war, with Prigozhin previously accusing officials of not providing his fighters with enough support.
The Wagner Group boss also urged the Russian media and military leadership to “stop lying to the Russian population” ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive over the coming weeks.
He said: “We need to stop lying to the Russian population, telling them everything is all right,” he said.
Meanwhile, a top Ukrainian general has claimed counterattacks had ousted Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut, but also warned the situation there remains “difficult”.
Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, posted on Telegram that new Russian units, including paratroopers and fighters from Wagner, are being “constantly thrown into battle”.
However, he also added: “But the enemy is unable to take control of the city.”
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