Ukrainian officer: Russian bloggers' panic over Lyman may be valid

Lt. Col. Rodion Kudryashov, deputy commander of Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps, stated in a Sept. 1 interview with Radio NV that panic among Russian military bloggers over the situation on the Lyman front may be valid. Kudryashov pointed out that Russian commanders often claim achievements and positions that don't exist, as seen in recent reports suggesting the invading force on the Lyman front could be encircled.

"In that context, certain panicked sentiments among Russian opinion leaders or military correspondents may well be objective," Kudryashov said. However, he urged waiting for official communication from the 3rd Army Corps and other units operating in the Lyman area. On Aug. 7, Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for Ukraine's Joint Forces Grouping, reported that Russian invasion forces were making intense efforts to break through to Lyman and establish a foothold on its outskirts.

Ukrainian defenses, including in Zarichne and Yampil, remained effective, according to Trehubov. The Joint Forces Group spokesman highlighted the presence of a "large gray zone" from Zarichne and Yampil, which serve as infiltration routes for Russian forces attempting to break through. Despite the high intensity of these attempts, Trehubov noted that Russia's effectiveness in this area was low due to the well-fortified nature of Lyman, which is well-supplied and defended both on the ground and in the air.