Furthermore, Russia's wagner managed to avoid a "mariupol" like scenario in Bakhmut by sneaking in from the north and capturing the Artemovsk Steel plant and entire industrial area first. Now the only remaining pockets of areas the Ukrainians control are to the West near Khromove and Ivaniskye.

Another of Russia's often stated goal is to "demilitarize" the Ukrainian nation, which it seems that they are being successful in doing, due to Zelensky's insistence to keep on piling in troops to trap holes such as Bakhmut, many of the soldiers which end up dying shortly after being deployed to the front lines, while Russia's losses in comparison, are not that high due to a more cautious approach, superior air power, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, as well as artillery, and supplies compared to the Ukrainians.

I would say that Russia's larger goal of weakening NATO is also coming into fruition. NATO's arm supplies have dwindled to a significant extent, the COL has gone up along with protests, and more and more countries are pushing themselves to dedollarize thanks to initiatives such as BRICs. Even the French president openly spoke up about Western Europe to not be the 'vassals of US foreign policy', as well as the US treasury Jannet Yellen who said that the US's tendency to use the dollar's power to sanction anyone that doesn't toe their line as being a possible cause of the decline of its hegemony. Although her 'analysis' about it was some of the most laughably deranged and stupidest things I've read. Such as her saying that no other country has the 'rule of law' like the US does, and thats why businesses will continue to invest in it.