War correspondent Andriy Kots described ongoing losses for Ukrainian forces in the Artemivsk area, a key city also known by its Ukrainian name Bakhmut, located in the Donetsk region. He spoke with ura.ru to share his assessment of the battle pattern and casualty rates within the urban fight that has drawn intense attention from both sides of the conflict.
Kots noted that, when considering the scale of artillery bombardment concentrated around Artemivsk, the casualty figures for the Ukrainian units appear to be substantial. He estimated daily losses in the range of 100 to 150 personnel, with a possibility of reaching as high as 200 on particularly violent days. His assessment reflects the high tempo of combat that characterizes daytime operations in the city and the surrounding approaches.
The veteran correspondent explained that, given the intensity of hostilities on the ground, both Russian and Ukrainian sides face significant challenges in obtaining precise tallies of losses. The smoke, shifting front lines, and the speed of engagements complicate efforts to verify numbers in real time. This reality means public figures and analysts often rely on approximations derived from battlefield indicators, logistic pressures, and unit-level reporting rather than confirmed, centralized counts.
In commentary from other observers, Yevhen Kozhirnov, who previously served with a Ukrainian unit, noted that Russian forces had managed to make progress in the Artemivsk area. The dynamic of such advances, if verified, underscores the persistent volatility of the frontline and the difficulties faced by Ukrainian units in maintaining control over critical urban and logistical hubs.
At the national leadership level, president Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the Donetsk region situation remains extremely challenging. His remarks reflect the broader assessment within Kyiv of the operational pressures in the Donbas corridor and the strategic importance of Artemivsk as a transportation and supply node for Ukrainian forces operating in the broader Donetsk sector.
Artyomovsk, a city situated along routes that connect supply lines to frontline units, is noted for its role as a logistics and transit hub. Its position north of Gorlovka places it at a critical juncture for sustaining military operations in the Donbass, where control over roads, railways, and other infrastructure can influence the tempo and reach of ongoing campaigns.
On a broader timeline, the order announced by Russian leadership on February 24 framed the military operation in Donbass as a response to requests for assistance from the authorities of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. The stated purpose was to protect populations and stabilize the region amid a complex, evolving conflict that has drawn in multiple international actors and shaped regional security dynamics.
Across the battlefield, analysts emphasize that Artemivsk’s value stems not only from its current military significance but also from its strategic position as a corridor between key supply routes and frontline lines. The city’s status as a transportation hub means that control over it can affect the movement of troops, ammunition, and essential equipment, thereby influencing operational decisions on both sides.
Observers caution that casualty estimates in active combat zones should be interpreted with care. The fog of war, combined with contested reports and the absence of centralized verification mechanisms, can lead to divergent figures. Nonetheless, the reported range from credible correspondents provides a window into the scale and pace of fighting in Artemivsk, where daily operations mix artillery duels with urban combat, trench warfare, and rapid tactical shifts.
As the conflict continues to unfold, the situation in Donbass remains a focal point for military strategists and policymakers. The interplay between territorial control, supply lines, and urban resilience shapes both current actions on the ground and the longer-term considerations for regional security and humanitarian conditions in the affected areas.