Most of the media I’m seeing only view Bakhmut in terms of its value for a Russian offensive, rather than the effect it may have on the Ukrainians’ ability to mobilise their own. On the one hand I see them acknowledge the “crucial” transport links to Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, but then in the same breath claim that the city isn’t worth the blood and treasure.

The discourse on the issue seems fishy, but I’m not a military expert so I honestly struggle to see how much of the messaging from the media is there to mislead and how much isn’t.