The Russian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday the completion of the takeover of the strategic town of Lyman in eastern Ukraine, while heavy fighting is taking place in the city of Donetsk. Both sides are trying to record achievements in the bloody campaign on the Donbass.
Moscow Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konshenkov announced yesterday that forces of the Russian army and the separatist district of Donetsk “liberated the city of Lyman from the Ukrainian nationalists.”
The town in the northern Donetsk region, home to 20,000 people, is considered a strategic point for the Russians, who are trying to advance towards the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk – which are still under Ukrainian control.
At the same time, short-range street battles were reported between the forces in the town of Donetsk in the Luhansk region. The head of the district on behalf of Ukraine Sergi Heidai noted that the Russians had managed to take over the Mir Hotel, however the municipal administration building is still under Ukrainian control. “The Russians have suffered heavy losses, but we have not yet been able to remove them from the hotel,” claimed Haidai, who clarified that the city is not yet cut off from Ukrainian supply lines: “There is a full connection with the city.”
According to the daily report of British military intelligence, the Russians are expected to take advantage of the takeover of Lyman to cross the Swarski Donts River that crosses the Donbass in the coming days. “A bridgehead near Lyman will provide Russia with an advantage in the next possible stage of the campaign in Donbas, as it is expected to try and advance towards the main Ukrainian-controlled cities, Sloviansk and Kramatursk,” it was reported.
Meanwhile, yesterday Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with French President Emanuel Macron, as well as with German Chancellor Olaf Schultz. He claimed that the negotiations were on hold “at the fault of Kyiv”, noting that the Russian side was “open to the resumption of dialogue”. He also warned against the continuation of Western arms shipments to Ukraine, as this could lead to “further aggravation of the situation and exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis.”
Despite Putin’s remarks, it is still unclear whether negotiations will resume soon. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday that “there seems to be no hope for talks right now. Putin has shown no willingness to make any kind of progress in the diplomatic path.”
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zlansky made it clear that his country recognizes the need to hold talks with Putin to end the war, but accused Moscow of not being interested in negotiations.