It’s a very defensible spot on the Donbas front.
Complex terrain, river, streams, lakes and reservoirs. A road hub. The rail doesn’t matter much unless it’s way behind the front. A good place to hold as a redoubt.
Very much like Verdun in 1914, save for the folkloric fame Verdun already had in those days, as a traditional border bastion.
Any folklore Bakhmut has, it has acquired in the course of this war.
Thank you for the background, much appreciated!
Except verdun didn’t fall And both sides fairly even
Bakhmut is toast and Ukraine depleted there
Once it’s gone it’ll be it really didn’t matter anyhow