Neil Hauer is claiming Syrski is an idiot.
It's my opinion Syrski wanted to keep his job.
It's my opinion Moskalyov was fired two weeks ago for wanting to withdraw from Bakhmut.
We'll see how things work out. I always maintained I'd prefer them to withdraw from Bakhmut before the last road out came under pressure (which wasn't even paved). Bakhmut is at a lower height than the western topography. You could have withdrawn to the surrounding hills overlooking the town. I feel like Zelensky didn't want to give up any more territory.
It's not over, yet. But it doesn't look like it's getting any better, when I keep hoping it will.
Quantity still has a quality all of its own, even when people say it doesn't. It's not providing Russia a breakthrough, and I firmly believe Ukraine wins this war, but in this particular battle Russia being willing to sacrifice so many men, and constantly use their artillery shell bombardment on squares rather than using reconnaissance to correct their shots, is making slow, deliberate, painful progress. I understand it's not sustainable for Russia in the way it was for the Soviet Union, but if they end up cutting off the UAF forces in Bakhmut that's not going to be much reassurance for them.
We'll see. Like I said, I keep hoping for a result other than Azovstal or the Donetsk Airport.