German intelligence concerned over AFU losses in battle for Bakhmut, calling them significant

According to the SPIEGEL report, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is raising the alarm over the high losses of the Ukrainian army in the battles for the strategically important city of Bakhmut in the eastern part of the country.

"The foreign intelligence service told security policy makers in the Bundestag at a secret meeting this week that the Ukrainian army is now losing triple-digit numbers of soldiers every day in battles with the Russian troops," the outlet writes.

The BND warned that the capture of Bakhmut by the Russian forces would have serious consequences, as it would allow Russia to move further into the country. The BND also reported that the Russian army is acting with ruthless brutality near Bakhmut.

German intelligence noted that Russia is throwing soldiers forward like cannon fodder, "and the heavy losses in its own armed forces seem to play no role in the tactics of the Russian war."

According to US intelligence, fierce fighting continues near the Ukrainian cities of Soledar and Bakhmut, but Russian troops do not have full control over either of these settlements.