Timelapse map shows Russia slowly surrounding Ukraine in Bakhmut, a 'meat grinder' battle that has left thousands dead - April 13, 2023 at 12:46PM

Annie Fu/Insider

Russian forces are slowly edging forward in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Both sides are throwing manpower and resources into the brutal battle as they try to grind each other down.
A timelapse map shows how Russia has now moved forward to enclose the city on three sides.

A new timelapse shows Russian forces slowly closing in on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, after weeks of stalemate in what is considered the longest and bloodiest battle in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Institute for the Study of War and AEI’s Critical Threats Project

The months of fighting for the eastern city have been slow, grinding, and often brutal, with commanders on both side calling the battle a “meat grinder.”

Russia started shelling the city in May last year, and the fighting ramped up in August.

Both sides see Bakhmut as an opportunity for a key symbolic victory in the slow-moving war, and also a chance to wear down their opponent.

The changing map shows how Russian forces have moved forward, and now surround the city on three sides. They have also reached the city center.

Washington DC-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said on Tuesday that Russia has taken at least 76.5% of Bakhmut.

It added that fighters with the Wagner mercenary group, which is leading Russia’s fight in the city, took the Bakhmut City Administration building on April 2.

Russia’s gains in April come after US officials, UK intelligence and experts all said in March that Russia’s progress had appeared to stall.

Russia is suffering huge losses as it inches forward.

US Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last month that the battle had turned into a “slaughter-fest” for Russian forces.

Western officials estimated that, as of early last month, between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured in the city.

NATO predicted that Russia was losing five soldiers for every Ukrainian killed.

Ukrainian officials have suggested that continuing the fight in Bakhmut allows the country to grind down Russia’s forces, weakening them so their strength can be limited for other offensives.

One expert told Insider last month that Russia seems to be sacrificing its troops to try and grind down Ukraine’s own supplies of ammunition and personnel.

Bakhmut does not actually hold much strategic importance for Russia, experts told Insider earlier this year, but they said that it is desperately seeking a win after failing to make any notable territorial gains in recent months.

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