From 2,500 to 5,000 Russian soldiers are concentrated in Lyman area - military expert Seleznyov

He said this on Espreso TV. 

"According to various estimates, from 2,500 to 5,000 Russian soldiers are currently concentrated in the Lyman area. These are not the best units of the Russian army. In fact, all Russian paratroopers are concentrated near Kherson. In Lyman, there are Russian soldiers who are called up under the BARS system (combat army reserve system) or mobilized  from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. There are also mercenaries of the Wagner PMC there - this will be a good acquisition for Ukraine in terms of replenishing the exchange fund," Seleznyov noted.

According to him, Lyman is the key to two strongholds of the Russian occupation army in the Luhansk region.

"The first direction is Svatove, where the Russian forces are trying to form a multi-level defense in fire mode, and the second direction is Rubizhne - Lysychansk.The Russian forces are trying to hold these lines," Seleznyov added.