...then Bakhmut was NOT critical.
For the Russians the main thing about it is that it’s a kill box roach motel for the Uke military and if it glass it opens the road straight onto Slavyansk for liberation of that town and a few final corners of Donbass. The Ukes want out because they want to conquer all of Donbass and they think if they can get that they can attack Crimea, or at least cut off the land bridge.
And there appears to be no US interests at all except for the defense industry and their congressmen they own.
So here we are.