Sorry, when I thought it was in the middle, only thinking about the eastern front, and not the southern front. I like to distinguish between the two.If the Russian take over this transportation hub Bukhmut, then that would achieve two things, one is reduce Ukraine strategic depth, and two the more direct outcome threaten supply lines going south, because they reduced Ukraine strategic depth.
Seems to me, the southern front is more important, in that that would decisively win the war, if the Russian can advance all the the to Odessa, making Ukraine a landlocked country. Cut off the supply lines coming from the north, then the fight to Odessa should be easier for one side.
Seems like a very critical juncture in the war.
If the Russians breakthrough here, then would they press forward further east, committing more troops? Would they attack in the south?
If the current stalemate changes in favour of the Russians, then who knows what the map will look like in a couple of months.