It does look like Ukraine made a good decision to make a stand in Bakhmut. The RuZZian army’s winter offensive failed while making only slow, grinding progress in Bakhmut with staggering losses.
“‘Bakhmut Trap’: Ukrainian Advances Vindicate Defense of Besieged City”
“Kyiv drains Russian troops by doggedly defending Bakhmut in 10-month battle of attrition”
“We lured the enemy into a Bakhmut trap,” said Col. Serhiy Cherevatiy, a spokesman for Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine. “The enemy has lost an incredible amount of manpower. We’re continuing to bleed the enemy.
Kyiv has in days reclaimed territory that it took Russian troops weeks of slogging through mud to seize. Those gains came as warmer weather dried up the ground after months of snow and mud had blocked most movements.”
“A Russian 9A310M1[-2] TELAR of the Buk-M1[-2] air defense system was destroyed by a GMLRS strike of the Ukrainian army in the vicinity of Popasna, #Luhansk Oblast.”
https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1658448076271484929