At least 50 Russian soldiers were killed in Bakhmut on Saturday and Sunday, the Ukrainian military claims. This figure has not been confirmed by independent sources.
Bakhmut is an important city on the eastern front line of Ukraine. A Russian breakthrough here could give the Russians an opportunity to advance behind Ukrainian lines. Ukrainian soldiers turned the city into a fortress.
The American think tank Institute for the study of war (ISW) writes in its latest update that the Russian offensive could be slowed down. ISW writes that Russian forces made less progress in the area in November and December than in October.