Russian forces were forced to retreat from the Donetsk transportation hub on Saturday in their latest defeat.
Ukrainian troops were seen throwing Russian flags from a Lyman administrative building in a viral video Saturday following Russia’s retreat from the key city.
Moscow faced defeat in Lyman, a strategically located city in the Donetsk region, on Saturday after more than seven months of fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his “special military operation” on Ukraine February 24. The Kremlin hoped for a quick victory against its Eastern European neighbor, but Ukraine responded with a stronger-than-expected defense effort.
In recent months, Ukraine launched counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson seeking to reclaim territory occupied by Russia, reclaiming thousands of square miles during September. Faced with mounting losses, Putin ordered a partial military mobilization to add 300,000 troops and illegitimately annexed regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk, which includes Lyman.
