Bakhmut was important because it was the stronghold that held the entire eastern front line together. That is because the Russians couldn't bypass it as there was a risk of being flanked by Ukrainian counters.
The Ukrainians have a large second front line behind Bakhmut but it is not as fortified and more out in the open which is not good against Russian artillery.
Once the Russians clean up the rest of the eastern front all that is left for Ukraine is to fall back further than the second front line established behind Artyomovsk.
Bakhmut was important because it was the stronghold that held the entire eastern front line together. That is because the Russians couldn't bypass it as there was a risk of being flanked by Ukrainian counters.
The Ukrainians have a large second front line behind Bakhmut but it is not as fortified and more out in the open which is not good against Russian artillery.
Once the Russians clean up the rest of the eastern front all that is left for Ukraine is to fall back further than the second front line established behind Artyomovsk.