The Battle of Verdun in WW1 was such a calculated battle. The Germans figured that Verdun was emotionally so important to the French that they'd defend it to the last even though it was of little military value. The Germans figured they could inflict (if memory serves) 5 - 3 casualties, which they believed would bleed out the French. It didn't work out (Germans did not achieve their number) but it's a tried and true strategy.
The Germans flipped roles in WWII in Stalingrad, which had essentially no military value but was emotionally important to Hitler because the city bore Stalin's name. The Germans gave up all their advantages in speed/mobility and air superiority by allowing themselves to be ground to bits in that vast rubble heap.
Maybe that's what happened in Bakhmut?
The Ukrainians shouldn't be defending themselves in Bakhmut. They need to get the Russians out in the open.
There have been several articles written that Russia reversed this ratio [the artillery advantage]. Western military experts were confounded.
Bakhmut is the key to Ukraines entire Donbas defense. The miles of trenches and tunnels are a massive defeat. Pulling back allows Russia the ability to come in behind other segments of the entire front.
Russia will declare the Special Operation over, and will then give Ukraine another 800,000 fresh troops in two separate Army groups INSTEAD OF 160,000 currently employed in Ukraine.
The western MSM is preparing readers for a possible collaspe of Uke Frontline forces who are war weary abit battle tested.
Ukraine is about taste defeat after defeat. Six weeks from now Ukraine will lose approximately 40 - 70,000 casualties.; Russia may suffer 2x but Ukraine will also see their Polish boarder sealed by troops from Belarus.