British intelligence outlines reasons for Russia's defeat in Lyman

The British Ministry of Defense reports on Twitter.

British intelligence is analyzing why on October 1 Russian troops in the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region retreated before the Ukrainian offensive. Lyman was defended by undermanned Russian units of the Western and Central Military Districts of Russia, as well as mobilized reservists. They suffered heavy losses as they left the city on the only road.

Experts have emphasized that Lyman is operationally important, as it allows control of a key road through the Siverskyi Donets river, along which Russia is trying to strengthen its defenses. Russia's withdrawal from Lyman is also a major political setback, given that it is located in Donetsk Oblast, a region that Russia allegedly intended to "liberate" and tried to illegally annex.

"The withdrawal from Lyman led to another wave of public criticism of the Russian military leadership from high-ranking officials. Further losses in the illegally occupied territories will almost certainly lead to an increase in this public criticism and increase pressure on the command of the Russian army," British intelligence concluded.