Yep. Putin was so desperate for a win that he allowed Prygozyn to fixate on it and in the process deplete some of the better Russian fighters and their weapons in fruitless effort.Russia has spent so much time, manpower and resources on Bakhmut, and yet, in the end, they may not even be able to take it.
This assault on that area looks like an act of desperation to me, they know they are screwed and just tried to gain some ground before it all goes to shit.