The fighting for control of the salt-mining town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has resulted in devastating losses for both Ukraine and Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 1,100 Russian soldiers were killed and an additional 1,500 were so badly wounded they are unable to continue fighting in the span of a week. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, their forces destroyed more than 220 Ukrainian service members in the past day alone.

Furthermore, their forces have begun military operations in the Donetsk region bordering Luhansk. With the Bakhmutka River winding through Bakhmut now marking the front line, Ukraine controls the area to the west and the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, controls the eastern part according to British intelligence.

The fight over the area has continued for months, with both sides admiting massive losses