 Russia lost five times more soldiers in Bakhmut than Ukraine. Russia has lost approximately five soldiers for every Ukrainian soldier killed in the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut, CNN reported, citing NATO estimates. Moscow's forces led by fighters from the Wagner mercenary group have been waging brutal fighting for Bakhmut since August, taking severe casualties in pursuit of what would be Russia's first battlefield win in months. An unidentified NATO official told that the five-to-one death ratio was an informed estimate based on the US-led military bloc's intelligence. Despite the favorable ratio for Ukraine's forces, the NATO official noted that Ukraine was suffering significant losses in its defense of the city. Ukraine has vowed to keep up its defense of Bakhmut, a former salt mining city that now lies in near total ruin. Kiev this week said fighting had become increasingly difficult and analysts said its forces may have initiated a strategic retreat. But President Volodymyr Zelensky met with top commanders and his office said they favored continuing the defense operation and further strengthening our positions in Bakhmut. Despite the favorable ratio, it is said Ukraine was suffering significant losses defending the city. Iranian officials have repeatedly claimed they were inflicting heavy losses on Russia as Moscow tried to take Bakhmut. Our defenders inflicted significant losses on the enemy, destroyed a large number of vehicles, forced Wagner's best assault units to fight, and reduced the enemy's offensive potential. Colonel General Oleksandr Sirsky, commander of Ukraine's land forces, said after a visit to Bakhmut.