Russian forces are attempting to infiltrate the city of Lyman in northern Donetsk Oblast but continue to suffer serious losses and fail to break through, according to Ukrainian military spokesman Viktor Trehubov. Despite multi-directional pressure and tactical shifts, Ukrainian forces maintain control as both sides struggle with vast contested terrain and active drone presence.
Russian troops try to enter Lyman and bypass defenses at once
On the Lyman axis, Russian troops are trying to circumvent Ukrainian positions and simultaneously penetrate the city, reported Trehubov, the head of communications for the Joint Forces Grouping. The situation is complicated by large zones of combat uncertainty and intense drone activity, Trehubov said in a television broadcast, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.
“The Russian army continues attempts at infiltration into Lyman, while at the same time trying to bypass Ukrainian positions around the city,” he stated.
Trehubov said both sides are experiencing logistical problems caused by vast contested areas and the constant presence of UAVs, which make it hard to maneuver and resupply.
“With logistics on the Lyman axis, both sides are having problems. There’s a big ‘gray zone’ there, much larger than it looks on the map. Because of active drone penetration, any logistical operation becomes a separate complication,” he noted.
Kyiv sees Russia focused on pushing north toward Sloviansk-Kramatorsk
Trehubov added that Russian troops are attempting both to flank Lyman and to enter the settlement directly, employing a range of pressure tactics.
“They’re throwing everything into this. They’re very interested in getting through the north to the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, so that direction stays under pressure all the time,” Trehubov said. “But again, they’re getting well punched in the teeth there.”
Broader January intentions revealed as Kupiansk thrust fails
Trehubov earlier reported that Russian forces intend to bypass Vovchansk in northern Kharkiv Oblast and advance toward Donetsk Oblast's Lyman during this January. He also said that the invaders had intensified pressure in the Kupiansk district in eastern Kharkiv Oblast—further north of Lyman.
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