Biden claims Russians suffered over 100,000 troop losses in Bakhmut

"There is a discussion about Bakhmut – whether or not it’s been lost or whatever," he said.

“Well, the truth of the matter is the Russians have suffered over 100,000 casualties in Bakhmut. That's hard to make up. So whether or not there are troops in Bakhmut occupying, there are not many buildings left standing in Bakhmut. It's a pretty devastated city. But they have been able to move in a direction that they've been able to lock down an awful lot of the Russian forces, including the Wagner Group.”

Biden made this statement in the context of the upcoming counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the possible transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. According to the U.S. president, F-16s "would not have helped (the Ukrainian army in Bakhmut)."

Two days ago, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Russia's losses on the Bakhmut axis had reached 70,000 killed and wounded.

What is happening in Bakhmut now

On May 20, the leader of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the complete capture of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, by his mercenaries.

Read also: Ukrainian soldier claims Russians near Bakhmut being forced to attack by officers

The Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense denied this information and said that fighting in the city continues.

On May 21, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported that the Ukrainian military had employed a double envelopment in Bakhmut, while continuing to maintain control over part of the city.

The commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, also said that the Ukrainian military controlled a small part of Bakhmut and were approaching the tactical encirclement of the city.

At a press conference following the G7 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces remained in the city.

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