Did Ukraine miscalculate in Bakhmut?

For months, Bakhmut has stood as a symbol of misguided Russian tactics that are guided more by political than military considerations. In the eyes of military experts, the low strategic importance of the place does not justify the enormous losses that Russia has had to accept for its gradual advances since it began the battle for Bakhmut last May. The Ukrainians’ tactic was to exhaust the Russian military in order to counterattack later that year. But the situation has changed.