None of the numbers we've seen for casualties on both sides are necessarily believable, but historically, in a trench warfare situation, attackers are expected to lose three for every one of the defenders lost.
Russia's highly publicized use of prisoners as cannon-fodder suggests they are not having an easy time of it around Bakhmut.
Words are just words. I prefer to look and compare the maps, both Russian MOD, Ukie zmOD, and Western. Both are close, the only problem with the western maps is they “ lag”, ie, the western maps failed to show the fall of Soledar for 5-7 days.
Dima on You Tube - the Military Summary Channel is best, using both maps, BUT he monitors in theatre channels, news, reports , video, they confirm much- all that the west ignores.
As stated , we can see Bakmut is all but steamrolled, Avidivka next, high Russian priority to stop the Ukie artillery that has shelled Donetsk since 2015.
Live video from the Russian social sites now show a huge increase of “ Odessa Next” banners popping up all across the Federation….no loss of resolve from the Russian population, no matter what the corrupted western MSM will have you believe.
Russia does rightly view this war as a war with NATO and the West. That fact alone points to Russia accomplishing its goals, bankrupting the collective West, dividing and bleeding them White.