Vladimir Putin is suffering "extremely heavy casualties" in Bakhmut which has been described as a "killing zone".
The ongoing conflict between the Russian ministry of defence and the rebel Wagner group over the city in Donetsk Oblast, has likely reached a “boiling point”, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The city which has been the site of violence for several weeks is also is significant for Moscow's efforts to advance its invasion.
According to The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysis, the Russian Ministry of Defense is deliberately expending “both elite and convict Wagner forces in Bakhmut in an effort to weaken [Yevgeny] Prigozhin and derail his ambitions for greater influence in the Kremlin”.
They also stated: “The Russian MoD is currently prioritising eliminating Wagner on the battlefields in Bakhmut, which is likely slowing down the rate of advance in the area.
“Prigozhin saw Bakhmut as an opportunity to gain leverage on the Russian MoD and likely in the Kremlin in pursuit of his own commercial and political aspirations.
“Putin used Wagner to protect his regime from detrimental societal ramifications of mobilisation, which also continues to inhibit his war efforts in Ukraine.”
The UK Ministry of Defence said yesterday that Russia was struggling during the battle for Bakhmut.
It added: "As Russia continues to suffer extremely heavy casualties, the impact varies dramatically across Russia's regions.
"In proportion to the size of their population, the richest cities of Moscow and St Petersburg have been left relatively unscathed. This is especially true for the families of the country's elite."
Meanwhile, the Ukraine Senior commander in Bakhmut, says that all ‘Russian attacks are being repelled, according to The Independent.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces, stated on Monday that despite the challenging circumstances, Ukrainian forces are successfully resisting all Russian endeavours to seize control of the town of Bakhmut.
He said: “All enemy attempts to capture the town are repelled by artillery, tanks, and other firepower.”
Syrskyi added that the Russian Wagner Group of mercenaries “are attacking from several directions trying to break through the defences of our troops and advance to the central districts of the town”.
The report is yet to be independently verified.
The news comes as reports from yesterday show Vladimir Putin's forced attempt to take control of the frontline city of Donetsk, with hundreds of Russian troops losing their lives in Bakhmut, where Kyiv's snipers are said to have established a "killing zone."
Some 520 Russian troops were reported killed and wounded in Bakhmut alone in one day’s fighting.
Ukraine’s military claimed Russia had suffered 2,000 fatalities since Friday – marking some of the deadliest days of the war since the invasion begun.
In recent months, the fighting in and around Bakhmut has intensified, making it one of the deadliest battlefields of the entire war.
Moscow's goal is to breach Ukraine's defences and gain control of the entire Donbas region, which has resulted in a significant increase in Russian casualties, estimated to be in the tens of thousands.
According to UK intelligence, Wagner Group units have seized most of eastern Bakhmut, with a river flowing through the city now marking the frontline.
it will be “highly challenging” for Wagner's soldiers to push ahead as Ukraine has destroyed key bridges over the river.
Whilst the buildings to the west with open grounds have Ukrainian snipers situated making the city's centre in to a deadly "killing zone".
