Russia opened the door to Lyman, 19 Ukrainian battalions were destroyed

The village of Zarichne east of Lyman, defended by 19 battalions of Ukrainian troops, was overrun by Russian troops, which opened their gates to approach the city.

Svpressa, citing sources from the Russian Ministry of Defense , said that on the Lyman front (Russians call it Krasno-Liman) in the north of Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine, the Western Army Group of the Russian army (RFAF) is completing control of the village of Zarichne (Russians call it Kirovsk), located 9 km northeast of Lyman city.

Zarichne is an important “defensive fortress” located on the eastern bank of the Zherebets River, covering an area of ​​12 square kilometers (almost the same area as Chasov Yar). It is not only the eastern defense line of Lyman, but also the “bridgehead” for the Ukrainian army (AFU), attacking the Serebryanskoye forest and the villages of Serebryanka, Dronovka and Yampol.

From May to September 2022, Zarichne was under RFAF control. Then, starting on October 2, 2022, Zarichne was recaptured by the AFU during the autumn counteroffensive. After the Ukrainian theater was divided among the RFAF groups, the area became the responsibility of the Western Group of Forces.

After recapturing Zarichne, the AFU turned the village into a fortified fortress, protecting the eastern side of the city of Lyman. The AFU deployed three brigades (nearly 12,000 troops), nearly five times the population of Zarichne, with a total of 19 battalions; many of them experienced in combat.

“To defend Zarichne, the AFU used tactics typical of urbanized areas in Donbass, which are to turn every house and basement into a fighting fortification. To protect against Russian attacks, the AFU laid barricades, anti-tank ditches and dense minefields,” said a spokesman for the RFAF Western Group.

In particular, the terrain and terrain of Zarichne is surrounded by forests and hills, helping the AFU defense here to organize camouflage fortifications, while preventing RFAF attacks from the east. Ukraine also established defensive positions along the Zherebets River, which acts as a natural water barrier, preventing Russian attacks.

According to independent military experts, the battle for the "fortress" Lyman is expected to last for months, even years. In Ukraine, Zarichne is nicknamed "Fortress 2.0", due to its solid construction, large number of defenders and terrain favorable for defensive fighting.

To capture Lyman, the RFAF first had to clear the Zarichne fortress. On May 15, assault units of the Western Army Group captured the village of Torske, east of Zarichne, at an altitude of 70 m; while Zarechne was located at a lower level. However, the AFU still controlled Hill 154, located behind Zarichne.

Realizing that the loss of Torske could threaten the Zarichne stronghold, the Ukrainian army immediately organized a counterattack, but was surprised by the Russian army's attack directly on Zarichne. The Western Army Group's shock units took advantage of the element of surprise, without organizing preparatory fire, and immediately crossed the Zherebets River, penetrating deep into the AFU defense line; simultaneously attacking both Torske and Zarichne.

The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) quoted Alexander Borodin, spokesman for the 3rd Azov Army, as saying that "the Russians are advancing mainly in small groups of untrained soldiers." Ukrainian military expert Konstantin Mashovets said that the Azov Army should be brought into the area for defense.

Ukrainian military blogger Muchnoy dismissed Borodin’s claims. In an operational memo published on September 26, he wrote: “The threat of a serious attack on the Lyman front is beginning to increase. Do not think that I am trying to scare or confuse you. Every important moment must be analyzed based on the reality of the front. First of all, I would like to note that the village of Zarichne is basically occupied by the Russians, while the AFU holds only a small part.”

Thus, after about six months of fierce fighting, the RFAF Western Army Group has opened the gates in the eastern area of ​​the city of Lyman, completing the siege of this city. The 12,000 Ukrainian defenders have been defeated, now only a few units of the 63rd AFU Brigade remain.

However, according to Muchnoy, the RFAF would “not be foolish” to rush straight into the “hedgehog” Lyman, but they would continue to create a siege, cut off the logistical supply lines and then overwhelm the target in one blow. According to Muchnoy, after taking control of Zarichne, the RFAF’s next objective would be to gradually advance towards the village of Stavki, where they would do the same as they did with Zarichne, in order to continue tightening the siege around Lyman.

In the direction north of the city of Lyman, the Russian Military Review website, citing the DIVGEN TV channel, reported on September 27 that the RFAF had completed control of the village of Derilove. The attack on Derilove began on September 23, shortly after Shandrigolovo came under Russian control.

The RFAF units took advantage of their success and increased the pace of their advance, and the very next day (September 24), some Russian media reported that the village was almost completely under RFAF control. And now, information has arrived that the Ukrainian troops have completely withdrawn from Derilovo.

The capture of Derilovo gives the RFAF the opportunity to attack the village of Drobyshevo, establishing a bridgehead there to attack Lyman from the northwest. And judging by the situation there, Drobyshevo will be used by the RFAF to launch the attack. According to the latest information, two days ago, Russian attack groups were spotted north of the village of Drobyshevo.

Lyman, a strategically important city in the far north of Donetsk Oblast, near the junction of Donetsk – Lugansk – Kharkov, is a stronghold preventing the RFAF from reaching the “twin cities” of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk.

At present, Russia is advancing towards Lyman from three directions: from Kolodyazi, Torske and Derilove. And the capture of most of Zarichne is not the only Russian success, as the Russians took control of Shandrigolovo and took Derilove as described above.

The RFAF's successive victories in the north and east of Lyman marked the collapse of the city's defenses in a domino effect; turning this place into a bridgehead, allowing the RFAF to break into Lyman; then helping the Russian army advance straight to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. (photo source: Military Review, Ukrinform, Kyiv Post).

Svpressa View source link

Original post link Copy link

https://svpressa.ru/war21/article/483640/

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/nga-mo-toang-cua-toi-lyman-19-tieu-doan-quan-ukraine-bi-danh-tan-post2149060484.html