Round 20,000 Russian troopers have been killed during the last 5 months in Ukraine, the US stated on Monday.
White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby advised reporters 100,000 males had been killed or wounded within the Bakhmut area and different areas of Ukraine since December.
Euronews can not independently confirm these figures.
The extent of losses on both aspect is troublesome to estimate, with officers remaining quiet about what number of males they've misplaced.
Moscow has not commented on the US declare.
Greater than half of the lifeless are from Russia's Wagner mercenary power, which was not too long ago crammed with convicts who have been provided lowered or annulled jail sentences to battle.
They've been attacking Bakhmut since final yr, with analysts likening the japanese metropolis to a meat grinder.
Ukrainian officers have echoed this remark, saying they're utilizing the ferocious battle to kill as lots of Russia's troops as attainable and exhaust its conflict effort.
However it's doubtless Ukraine has additionally suffered vital losses, too.
Moscow has reportedly captured most of Bakhmut, which sits within the prized japanese Donbas area, however Ukrainian troops cling on in a small portion of town to the West.
Although its strategic significance is debated, the small salt mining metropolis has taken on enormous symbolic significance for each side.
Ukraine needs to show its potential to withstand Russia, seeing this as a precursor to Western assist, whereas Russia is raring to acquire a transparent battlefield victory that it could possibly level to.
The chief of the Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has additionally staked his popularity on seizing town.
Talking on Monday, White Home spokesman Kirby stated Moscow had made minor positive aspects in Bakmut, however this had come at a "horrible, horrible price" and their effort had "stalled".
"Russia's try at a winter offensive within the Donbas largely by way of Bakhmut has failed," he stated. "Russia has been unable to grab any strategically vital territory."
The US official claimed that Ukraine's defences remained robust. However he stopped in need of giving an estimate of the Ukrainian casualty determine, saying "they're the victims right here".
"Russia is the aggressor," he added.