Russia ‘loses 1090 soldiers’ in reported deadliest day of war

Ukrainian troops killed more than 1000 Russian soldiers in what could be the deadliest day of fighting since the invasion began.

An Ukrainian serviceman makes the victory sign as he moves towards the frontline city of Bakhmut in the region of Donbas on March 11, 2023. Picture: Aris Messinis/AFP

Ukrainian troops killed more than 1000 Russian soldiers in what could be the deadliest day of fighting since the invasion of the country more than a year ago, Kyiv’s military overnight.

In a video shared by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun claimed that Ukrainian forces killed 1090 Russian troops on Saturday, the NY Post reports.

Shtupun also commended the elimination of eight Russian tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and four artillery systems in the fighting.

The latest fatality report tops Kyiv’s previous record for 1030 Russian soldiers killed overnight on February 7, just weeks before the war’s first anniversary on February 24.

Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi also said Sunday that an additional 239 Russian soldiers were killed on the frontline near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, the Kyiv Independent reported.

A Ukrainian soldier moves to the frontline in Bakhmut. Picture: Aris Messinis/AFP

On Friday, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar confirmed that the ongoing battle of Bakhmut was “aggravated” as Russia maintained its offensive even in the face of losses.

“Our soldiers are doing everything possible to prevent the enemy from realising their plans,” Maliar wrote on Telegram.

Russia’s offensive on Bakhmut, which is essential to the Ukrainian supply chain, and surrounding settlements has been ongoing since mid-January. Moscow first captured the city in May 2022.

March 6, 2023, #satelliteimagery of #Bakhmut, #Ukraine, visually shows the extent of severe destruction across the city.

1.) Overview of the city
2.) Buildings on fire
3.) Damaged railroad bridge
4.) Destroyed buildings pic.twitter.com/986r8dNWlu

— Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) March 10, 2023

Maxar Technologies’ satellite images shared earlier this week show the once-thriving city reduced to rubble and clouded by ash.

As of this weekend, Ukraine’s forces were reportedly holed up in buildings on the west side of the Bakhmutka River. The 8000m area of open space between the Ukrainian and Russian soldiers has been dubbed a “killing zone” as the battle rages on.

A captured member of the Russian Wagner group, right. Picture: Sergey Shestak/AFP

Despite earlier reports that Russia’s Wagner forces made gains in the area, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)’s Sunday report concluded that the troops did not advance on Saturday.

News of Russia’s heavy weekend losses came shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s aide, Mykhailo Podolyak, told Italy’s La Stampa newspaper about Ukraine’s strategy in the war-torn region.

“[Russia] has converged on Bakhmut with a large part of its trained military personnel, the remnants of its professional army, as well as the private companies,” Podolyak explained.

“We, therefore, have two objectives: to reduce their capable personnel as much as possible, and to fix them in a few key wearisome battles, to disrupt their offensive and concentrate our resources elsewhere, for the spring counteroffensive.”

Another aide was more explicit, telling the BBC that the Bakhmut front was “a unique opportunity to kill a lot of Russians”.

One US official, who spoke anonymously, estimated that as many as 30,000 have been killed in the assault since the start of the war. Ukrainian officials also claimed on Tuesday that 4000 residents have been killed in the city.

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Russia ‘loses 1090 soldiers’ in reported deadliest day of war