Russian military confirms capture of more cities in eastern Ukraine

“Following the joint actions of militia units of the (self-proclaimed) Donetsk People’s Republic and the Russian armed forces, the city of Lyman was completely liberated from Ukrainian nationalists.” The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement released recently.

On May 27, pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine announced the capture of the city of Lyman.

The announcement of this faction confirmed that it had “completely liberated and controlled” 220 areas, including Krasny Liman – Lyman’s former name.

A day earlier, Alexey Arestovich, a key adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, admitted that Russia had controlled Lyman, while Ukrainian forces were retreating to Slavyansk in the west-southwest.

“We have lost the city of Lyman“, said Mr. Arestovich.

Russian forces entered Lyman on May 23. Just two days later (May 25), about three-quarters of the city was believed to have come under Russian control while Ukrainian forces consolidated on the southwestern edge. Ukrainian officials say that this is one of the two cities that have suffered the most intense fighting along the Donetsk front line.

Lyman was one of the first towns in Donetsk province to be controlled by pro-Russian separatists after the Maidan protest movement in 2014. Ukraine regained control of the city early that June.

Lyman is considered strategically located on the road leading to key cities still under Kyiv control in the east.

The news that Russia controls Lyman comes amid fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine.

On May 26, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar said that confrontations in this region are at “extremely fierce”.

“The fighting is at its peak. The enemy is simultaneously attacking our army’s positions in many directions. We will see an extremely difficult and long period of combat ahead. “, Mr. Maliar said.

The Russian military is making slow but steady advances towards the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine after withdrawing from the northern and central regions to consolidate forces in the west. Russian forces are closing in on several strategic cities in the Donbass, especially Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.