True.
But the spoils include the people - some of whom Russia has moved from Ukraine deep into Russia. (Think both slave labor to leverage or abuse in various ways, and perhaps children to adopt.) And world acclaim: now that Russia appears to have taken Bakhmut, their armies are no longer mocked as much as they were at the start when they lost some skirmishes and armor.
Also, it moves Russian forces even closer to other towns, villages and transportation networks. For the next round.