Ukraine surrounded thousands of Russian soldiers in the eastern city of Lyman on Saturday at a critical location for Moscow in an operation that is still ongoing, a Ukrainian military spokesman said.
The capture of the city, which Russia used as a logistics and transport hub for its operations in the northern Donetsk region, would be a major setback for the Kremlin’s plan to seize the entire industrial Donbass region.
“The Russian grouping in the Lyman area is surrounded,” said Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesman for eastern Ukraine forces.
“Lyman is important because it is the next step towards the liberation of Ukrainian Donbass. It is an opportunity to go further to Kreminna and Sievierodonetsk, and it is very important psychologically,” she continued.
Russian forces at Lyman totaled about 5,000 to 5,500 troops, but the number of troops encircled may have dropped because of casualties and some soldiers trying to escape the encirclement, Cherevatyi said.
He said Russian troops are mounting unsuccessful attempts to break the siege.
“Some are surrendering, there are many dead and wounded, but the operation is not over yet,” he added.
Source: CNN Brasil

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