Ukraine's secret Lyman offensive is reversing Russian gains and making Moscow nervous, analysts say

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026.

Ukrainian forces quietly launched one of their biggest offensives of the year near Lyman in Donetsk in May, in near-total secrecy. For the preceding year, Russia had been making incremental advances in the area, steadily accumulating ground. By September, Russian military bloggers were openly acknowledging that conditions on the front had become dire. Ukraine has also been striking Russian energy infrastructure, with multiple sites hit in recent attacks.