 One Russian was killed for every 48 centimeters of land in Bakhmut. One Russian soldier was killed for every 48 centimeters of land captured by Vladimir Putin's forces in Bakhmut. The UK's Ministry of Defence has estimated. According to the Daily Mail, Russia claimed last month that it had taken control of the besieged city in eastern Ukraine, the scene of some of the worst fighting since Putin invaded the country 15 months ago. However, Ukrainian army chiefs have dismissed the claim saying they still control parts of the city in the southwest. Officials at the Ministry of Defence made their estimate after widespread reports claimed Russia sustained heavy losses in Bakhmut. European governments believe Russia lost more than 20,000 troops, half of whom were mercenaries from the Wagner Group militia and more than 60,000 were injured, a figure that the US claims could be up to 100,000. Last week, Western officials revealed that Bakhmut, a city covering 16 square miles with a pre-war population of just over 73,000, cost the Russians a soldier for every advance of 48 centimeters. One said, it is essentially World War One, where we've seen waves of infantry in many cases unsupported by combined arms, going up against defensive positions and in many cases, literally being moaned down.