This is something very different. Russia is clearly attempting to surround the city, but they don't have the flexibility to use Wagner like they did before. Other PMCs exist, of course, but none that are as effective as Wagner was. It looks like it was supposed to be a Blitzkrieg style of attack, but it's not moving fast enough and is not coordinated enough to work.

If I am not mistaken, this particular Russian attack has been much more costly than Bakhmut and it seems that Ukraine is not willing to get pulled into urban fighting like before. Ukraine has been attacking equipment before it even reaches the front and their artillery has been just been firing at the same spots, holding the Russians back.

The footage from the front is just weird. Russia is sending lines of armor and personnel via the same routes, time and time again.