Under the threat of re-occupation: how Russians are getting closer to Lyman

The Russian army continues to try to advance in the Donetsk region. The number of problematic areas has increased since the Russians seized the initiative. Among them is the north of the region.

In particular, in the Lyman sector, Russian occupiers are trying to get behind the rear of the Defense Forces on the Siverskyi salient. Because of this, the city of Lyman is subjected to regular massive shelling.

“The Lyman is a logistics hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and, accordingly, a key defense point. Again, access to the Lyman makes it possible to actually flank the Ukrainian group in the Donetsk region. That is, again from the flank to get closer to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, and, accordingly, Kostiantynivka,” explains military expert Dmytro Sniehirov.

The situation in the north of the Donetsk region is also affected by what is happening in the Kharkiv region. On May 10, Russian troops crossed the border near Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Read about the situation in the north of Donetsk region and whether residents are afraid of re-occupation in the report by Novyny Donbasu.

Russian troops are trying to find a weakness in the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Experts believe that the attack on the Kharkiv region was needed mainly to stretch the defense line and divert attention from the Donetsk region. This means that Putin has not abandoned the idea of occupying the entire Donbas.

“Everywhere their advance is tactical, everywhere there is a positional struggle. I would not assume any breakthroughs anywhere right now. The enemy is testing our defense, trying to stretch it to find a weak spot and hit it as hard as possible. Just like in the Kharkiv region.

There were fears about the Sumy region, but they did not materialize: in Ryzhivka, apparently, the sabotage and reconnaissance group was active, and there was a small stir. However, the danger remains for the Sumy region. Therefore, all their actions are an attempt to stretch our front, to force us to maneuver our reserves to strike at some area, to find a weak spot,” military expert Denys Popovych explained to Novyny Donbasu.

In search of a weak spot, Russian troops are shelling both Ukrainian positions and settlements along the front line with all possible weapons. The city itself and the community, where about 9,500 people currently live, are also affected by the shelling.

“Over the past two weeks, shelling has become more frequent. These are the settlements such as Lyman and its outskirts — Drobysheve and Nove, which are actually near the front line,” said Oleksandr Zhuravlov, head of the military administration of the Lyman community, in an interview with Novyny Donbasu.

Evacuation of the Lyman community is necessary

On June 6, the Donetsk Regional Military Administration announced the forced evacuation of families with young children from the Lyman community. This procedure will last for 60 days.

“A decision has already been made to conduct a mandatory evacuation. And it is now underway. First of all, people are leaving on their own, realizing the danger. Just recently, there was a powerful shelling of the village of Drobyshevo — civilians were wounded. And on that day, in the evening, a family with children asked for help in evacuating. They said that it was simply impossible to live in such conditions,” Pavlo Diachenko, a spokesperson for the Donetsk regional police, told Novyny Donbasu.

“We evacuated our children and grandchildren two years ago. I've stayed here alone for now, I'm in my old age and I don't want to go anywhere. The situation is not very pleasant, but we are surviving as best we can,” says Ivan, a resident of Lyman.

Northern part of the Donetsk region is under constant shelling

The northern part of the Donetsk region was occupied in 2022. The frontline stopped at the Siverskyi Donets River. At that time, almost all of Sviatohirsk and the Lyman community were captured by the Russians. During this time, the Russian army committed numerous war crimes. And frightened locals were afraid to leave their homes and shelters.

“I never went out, I live in the detached house. My neighbors moved out, so I had something to do: ducks, chickens, abandoned cats, farming. I worked in the gardens and looked after the houses and the farms. We survived for three months like that. Thank God that it was only three months,” recalls Natalia, a resident of Lyman.

Northern Donetsk region was liberated during the Kharkiv operation. The estuary has been under full Ukrainian control since October 2022, but the area and the people who stay here remain in limbo due to the proximity of the frontline and the threat that Russia will come back.

Therefore, nothing is being restored globally. The electricity has been restored in some settlements, but not all of them have electricity. Also, several modular showers and laundries were set up in Sviatohirsk and Bohorodychne. The authorities helped some people with the restoration, and volunteers helped others.

“My house was damaged on May 4. On May 8, the shell hit nearby. They immediately provided building materials, covered the roof, and boarded up the windows. Volunteers are working, the administration is working,” says Natalia, a resident of Lyman.

In general, people survive as best they can, says Ivan, a resident of Lyman.

“I work in the garden, go fishing, wash myself in the lake, and that's it, all the work, if it's quiet. If it's noisy, I don't go anywhere. In general, it's okay, I water the garden, weed, and cut the grass,” says the pensioner.

Despite the danger, people stay

You can see such small gardens near almost every apartment building. This is how locals try to grow vegetables and fruits for themselves.

“I do it for myself. Of course, you can buy stuff at the market, but we want our own. Each of us had a summer house, took care of it, and now we are left with nothing,” adds the resident of Lyman.

Those who remained survived the occupation in 2022, but despite this, many of them are still not going to evacuate, even if it means the recapture of their towns and villages.

“We have nothing to leave with. We have a single father at work. He works at the railroad and has two girls. Where can he go? He will lose his job. Will he be given a house or an apartment? Where should he go?" Natalia asks.

Two years after the full-scale invasion, people still have the same reasons to stay at home: lack of finances and opportunities, as well as limited assistance. For example, the residents of Bohorodychne, which is located next to Sviatohirsk, experienced all of this.

“Those who leave are not really well accepted, there are problems. And we had to live on 1000 UAH, spend 1000 UAH a month on food for two people. Just think how it was. Yes, we still received 2000 as IDPs. And now I don't know how people survive,” says Anatolii, a resident of Bohorodychne.

In turn, Halyna, a resident of Bohorodychne, decided to return to the village, and later she was given a generator and food.

Local administrations in the north of the region and volunteers are assisting those who did not leave or decided to return.

“At the moment, our humanitarian funds do not stop assisting, but they change their routes and schedule. We had a case when people were gathering to receive humanitarian aid, but the fire adjusters gave out the positions and there were hits. That's why the schedule is changing today, but people are constantly here and receiving humanitarian aid,” said Oleksandr Zhuravlov, head of the Lyman community.

Before the full-scale war, Lyman was a fairly large railroad hub. Recreational tourism was developed here — there are Blue Lakes and beautiful coniferous forests here. This is the heritage of the Donetsk region. Now all critical infrastructure is damaged, there is no work, and only a few shops are open.

Due to frequent shelling of the Lyman community, everything is destroyed by fire. Fires threaten not only the forest but also neighboring settlements. Meanwhile, the shelling is only intensifying.

“Everyone is shocked. When we recover, where do we go? Life goes on, you don't know how long it will last. A year, two years, you're not going to stay in the basement. So, we are holding on. We hope that Lyman will be Ukraine, and we will be protected somehow,” said Natalia, a resident of Lyman.

While the Russians continue to try to advance toward Lyman, people in the area have been suffering from daily shelling for three years. Only volunteers, the city administration, and the evacuation that officials insist on so strongly are helping to alleviate the situation.

Author: Dmytro Hlushko

The material was created with the support of Mediamerezha.