Russia Retreated After Ukraine Surrounded Lyman

It was reported that Russian troops had to withdraw on October 1st after encircled by Ukrainian forces on the front lines of the eastern Ukrainian city Lyman. Ukraine’s counterattack has humiliated and angered Russia.

Kremlin announced just a day earlier to the world that it had annexed four regions of Ukraine, including Lyman. Lyman’s victory paves the way for Ukrainian troops to push further into occupied land。

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Saturday, “the Ukrainian flag is already in Lyman, Donetsk region. Fighting is still going on there. But there is no trace of any pseudo-referendum there.”

Russian Defense Ministry said Russia had bitterly attacked on Ukraine in the battle to defend Lyman, but their troops were outnumbered and pulled back to a more favorable position. Zelensky’s senior official posted that the Ukrainian flag was flying on the outskirts of Lyman.

Lyman was Russia’s very important frontline position for ground communications and logistical support. It is located 160 kilometers southeast of Kharkiv and is the second largest city in Ukraine. It is in the Donetsk region, near Luhansk, both of which were claimed by Russia on Friday.

Zelenskyy formally applied for NATO membership on Friday, increasing pressure on Western allies to defend Ukraine. Meanwhile in Washington, President Biden signed another bill of more than $12.3 billion in military and war-related financial aid.