The only prediction I've made so far in this war was saying back in June (on TOS) that the Russians would end up pulling out of Kherson because it was indefensible. Some other guys, mostly former officers or NCO's themselves, agreed despite the ridicule from the pro-Russia club. We could read maps and draw inferences, and we were right. So now, I'm making a second.
I think the Russians are in trouble.
The Ukrainian generals aren't stupid. Quite the contrary - they've outgeneraled the Russians this entire war. And one key thing they've done is always shown a willingness to trade space to inflict disproportionate casualties on the Russians. Bleed the attackers, then counterattack.
Those same generals would have withdrawn from Bakhmut if the loss ratio was unfavorable, or if they though there was a real risk of getting cut off. But they haven't. Instead, they've deliberately stayed in that meat grinder and not traded space, of which they have plenty.
That tells me 1) the loss ratio is heavily in favor of the Ukrainians favor, 2) they don't believe the Russians can complete an encirclement of Ukrainian forces defending Bakhmut, which has been the Russian goal for more nearly 9 months now, and 3) the Ukrainians have the forces available for a devastating counterattack if 2) did happen to occur. That last point is key.
They are staying in Bakhmut to bleed the Russians deliberately, and make those exposed attack formations ripe for a counterattack.
On the Russian side, the continued attacks on a relatively minor objective like Bakhmut - and no attacks of substance anywhere else - shriek of a lack of mobile offensive combat power. Normally, If you had an overall force advantage, you'd engage in some other areas to force the Ukrainians to pull troops away from Bakhmut. But they haven't. The Russians have put all their offensive eggs into that one basket because it is the only basket they've got. They don't have the strength to push anywhere else, and they are bleeding themselves white trying to achieve success in the only sector where they have any offensive combat power remaining.
A tipping point is going to be reached, when the Russians finally are sufficiently exhausted that they have to stop, that's when the Ukrainians will counterattack. Hard. And that's when the depths of the Russian problem will become apparent. Regimental (depleted as they are) level collapses along the front. Minimum.