Battlefield Bakhmut: Why Russia & Ukraine are Fighting Over this City

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for December 21, 2022:

- Pentagon admits Russia is gaining ground in Bakhmut;
- Zelensky visit to Bakhmut mirrors similar visit to Lysychansk before it fell to Russian forces;
- Western media admits Russia has Ukraine outgunned 6 to 1 in Bakhmut;
- Claims that Russian losses are as significant as catastrophic toll Ukraine is suffering in Bakhmut does not reflect reality if Russia outguns Ukraine significantly;
- Bakhmut is a significant transportation hub and a crucial fortified position along one of Ukraine's last major defensive lines in the east;
- The fall of Bakhmut may lead to a similar breakthrough like Popasna;
- Russian forces appear interested in destroying Ukraine's military at Bakhmut more than taking the city itself;

References:

Gonzalo Lira Roundtable - The Roundtable #38: Why Bakhmut Matters:
https://youtu.be/sNhUoLwgP08
AP - Russian rockets hit eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk (May 2022):
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-donetsk-government-and-politics-8747938cc5e85ea947179f38c34fb022
Ukrinform - Enemy shells Pokrovsk with Iskanders five times in past day, casualties reported:
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3568945-enemy-shells-pokrovsk-with-iskanders-five-times-in-past-day-casualties-reported.html
US Department of Defense - Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary, Holds a Press Briefing Dec. 20, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3251933/brigadier-general-pat-ryder-pentagon-press-secretary-holds-a-press-briefing/
PBS - Zelenskyy visits front line in Bakhmut while Putin praises troops in Kremlin:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/zelenskyy-visits-front-line-in-bakhmut-while-putin-praises-troops-in-kremlin
ABC Australia - Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits frontline cities as Russia resumes strikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-06/volodymyr-zelenskyy-visit-lysychansk-soledar-russia-strikes/101128386
Reuters - Analysis: Russia's grim battle for Bakhmut may yield pyrrhic victory at best:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/grim-battle-bakhmut-may-yield-only-pyrrhic-victory-russia-2022-12-20/
The Times - Ice cold test of resolve in Ukraine’s ‘meat grinder’:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-tank-regiment-russia-war-front-line-6kpcm699m
NY Times - Russia’s Battle for Bakhmut:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/briefing/russia-ukraine-war-bakhmut-weapons.html
WSJ - Battle for Bakhmut Is Critical Test of Russia's Prospects in Ukraine:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/battle-for-bakhmut-is-critical-test-of-russias-prospects-in-ukraine/ar-AA15qaJV