The battle for Bakhmut has turned into a 'slaughter-fest' for Russia, says top US general

• Russia's efforts to take Bakhmut have become a "slaughter-fest" for its troops, Gen. Mark Milley said.

• He said Russia has not made progress for around 20 days, and they are being "hammered" by Ukraine.

• Russia likely wants a symbolic victory in Bakhmut, but its progress there has been slowing.

The battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has turned into a "slaughter-fest" for Russian forces, according to US Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Milley was asked at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday about Russia's failure to capture Bakhmut, despite months of fighting to take it.

Bakhmut is considered the bloodiest battle of the invasion so far.

Milley said in response that he believes "Russians are struggling in a big way" there with command issues, logistics, basic tactics, and troop training.

"They are getting slaughtered, the Russian troops are" he said.

Milley added for the last 20 or 21 days "Russians have not made any progress whatsoever in or around Bakhmut."

"The Ukrainians are doing a very effective area defense that is proving to be very costly to the Russians," he said.

Russia first started shelling the city in May last year, with fighting ramping up in August. Russia has slowly inched forward, but has failed to capture the city.