After being encircled by Ukrainian forces, Russia pulled troops out Saturday from an eastern Ukrainian city that it had been using as a front-line hub.
Taking the city paves the way for Ukrainian troops to potentially push further into land that Moscow now illegally claims as its own.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have inflicted damage on Ukrainian forces in battling to hold Lyman, but said outnumbered Russian troops were withdrawn to more favorable positions.
Kyiv’s air force said it moved into Lyman, and the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff posted photos of a Ukrainian flag being hoisted on the town’s outskirts.
Ukrainian forces have retaken vast swaths of territory in a counteroffensive that started in September.
0:48 Canada introduces new sanctions on Russia over annexation of Ukraine regions Canada introduces new sanctions on Russia over annexation of Ukraine regions.
Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of targeting two humanitarian convoys in recent days, killing dozens of civilians. »