Ukrainian Forces Recapture Lyman, Gateway City of Donetsk Province

The Ukrainian military is issuing a statement in front of the government building in Lyman, northern Donetsk Oblast, which they recaptured on the 1st (local time).
Photo by Reuters-Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] On the 1st (local time), Ukraine recaptured Lyman, the northern gateway city of Donetsk Oblast in the east. Donetsk is one of the four Ukrainian provinces?along with Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson?that Russian President Vladimir Putin declared annexed the day before. This means Ukraine struck the occupied territory just one day after Russia announced the annexation.

AFP reported on the same day that Russian forces acknowledged their withdrawal from the strategically important city of Lyman.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Eastern Forces, announced in the morning that Ukrainian forces had encircled Russian troops in Lyman, and a few hours later reported successful entry into Lyman. He stated, "We are already in Lyman," but added, "However, fighting is still ongoing." Cherevatyi said, "The Russian forces have between 5,000 and 5,500 troops in Lyman, but due to casualties, the encircled forces may be fewer."

Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, reported that Russian troops withdrew from their stronghold in Lyman.

Lyman is a key transportation hub located on the route to Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk, core cities in northern Luhansk Oblast.

After recapturing Kharkiv Oblast last month, Ukraine has been engaged in battles with Russia in Lyman, the gateway city, to advance into Luhansk Oblast.

Cherevatyi explained, "The reason Lyman is important is that it is the next step toward liberating Donbas," adding, "We just need to advance further to Kreminna and Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast. It is also psychologically very significant." He said, "Some are surrendering. There have been many casualties among Russian forces," but emphasized, "However, the operation is not over yet."

Ukraine has intensified its offensive to reclaim territory regardless of Russia's annexation treaty.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.