 Russians still cannot get rid of the Bakhmut swamp. Fierce fighting over Bakhmut continues, with the Russian Federation expending significant manpower for very little benefit. While Ukrainian forces are highly motivated to fight for their country, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, has said, Ukrainian military continues to perform very well. Intensifying around Bakhmut continues, and this has been going on for several months. Russia is expending significant manpower for very little gain. Milley said at a press conference following the Ramstein meeting in Germany. He said Russia continues to pay dearly for its choice of war, while the Ukrainian forces are highly motivated to fight for their country, for their freedom, for their democracy, and way of life. The Russians lack in leadership. They lack will. The morale is poor and discipline is eroding. Milley said. He also said Russia tightens conscription laws as they indiscriminately figure their citizens into the chaos of war. Russia continues to fail in achieving its strategic objectives, Milley said. Russian forces have been trying for months to capture Bakhmut, a transport and logistics hub in Ukraine's Donetsk region. So Russian forces continue their assault on operations in and around Bakhmut. Ukraine's general staff reported that Ukrainian troops repelled all Russian attacks in the Bakhmut direction, specifically in Bakhmut city and Khromov, two kilometers northwest of Bakhmut.