Moscow: A Ukrainian military spokesman said on Saturday that more than 500 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded during clashes in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut during a recent 24-hour period.

In the eastern Donbass region, pro-Moscow forces have been fighting for months to capture Bakhmut. Both sides admit heavy losses and the exact numbers are difficult to verify.

Serhiy Cherevati, formerly an army spokesman, claimed that during a 24-hour period, the Russians carried out 16 attacks, with 23 clashes in Bakhmut.

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He told the national parliament's television station that 221 enemies were killed during the fighting, and 314 others received varying degrees of injuries.

Cherevati's comments did not clarify whether he was referring to casualties on Friday or within the last 24 hours.
Reuters was currently unable to verify this claim.

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According to a spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kiev decided to continue fighting in Bakhmut because the conflict is weakening Russia's top units.

According to Moscow, the capture of Bakhmut would weaken Ukrainian defense and pave the way for the capture of the entire industrial Donbass region, a key target.

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Thousands have been killed, millions displaced and many Ukrainian cities and towns destroyed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February last year.