Russia Ukraine war, page-133245

There's nothing wrong with what Kirby said, your interpretation is the problem.

He acknowledged incremental gains in Bakhmut.

Where you are falling down is failing to put this into context.

Russia has been beating it's head against a brick wall in Bakhmut for 9+ months. It's a town with a pre-war population of 70k, something like the 50th largest city in Ukraine.

The supposed second best army in the World has been trying to take this 50th largest town in Ukraine for 9+ months and still hasn't been able to fully yet. In the context of the war as a whole, it's a fairly pitiful performance.

Context.

Cheers!