Ukraine says Russia lost over 1,000 soldiers for 24 hours in the Bahmut fight

The Ukrainian Army confirmed on 12 March that the Russian side lost more than 1,000 troops in the last 24 hours, as Moscow's efforts for the eastern town of Bahmut continued. Kiev said he's determined to protect this city.

Ukraine's General Staff said 12 March that the Russians had lost 1,090 soldiers and eight tanks in the last 24 hours.

Radio Free Europe has not been able to confirm these developments on the battlefield. But a British intelligence report and other Western analysts said the Russian side has lost many troops, while aiming at surrounding and occupying Bahmut.

The commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, Oleksandr Syrskiy, said Bahmut's stubborn defence “is needed to buy time to build reserves, and launch a counteroffensive, which is not far from”.

Mediazona, an independent anti-Putin media, said 1,638 regular Russian soldiers and mercenaries have died in the last two weeks of fighting in Ukraine, one of the deadliest periods confirmed for Putin forces.

Yesterday, Ukraine also said the Russian Army launched “more than 100 attacks” along the front line.

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, warned on March 8th that the Ukrainian city of Bahmut could fall into the hands of Russians in the coming days, as this eastern town for months is facing intense fighting.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said 7 March that catching Bahmut would be a key step towards launching a broader offensive in the Donjeck region.

Fighting around Bahmut has been the longest and most severe since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Western experts have said Bahmut has less strategic importance for Russia than symbolic importance.