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After conducting a final evacuation of civilians and leaving supplies for those who decided to stay, the last Ukrainian forces evacuated Lyman on the afternoon of 26 May, destroying the last remaining bridge behind them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=В офисе Зеленского допустили потерю контроля над Лиманом |url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/27/05/2022/628ffbdd9a7947f3836a687e |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=РБК |date=27 May 2022 |language=ru |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527054703/https://www.rbc.ru/politics/27/05/2022/628ffbdd9a7947f3836a687e |url-status=live }}</ref> Ukrainian presidential advisor ] said that the city had been captured by Russian forces,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2022-05-27 |title=Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in eastern Donbas region |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-squeezes-ukrainian-strongholds-in-eastern-donbas-region |access-date=2022-05-27 |work=] |agency=] |language=en |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528195953/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-squeezes-ukrainian-strongholds-in-eastern-donbas-region |url-status=live }}</ref> a statement confirmed by the ].<ref name="ISW_May26" /> |
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On 26 May, Ukrainian presidential advisor ] said that the city had been captured by Russian forces,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=В офисе Зеленского допустили потерю контроля над Лиманом |url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/27/05/2022/628ffbdd9a7947f3836a687e |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=РБК |date=27 May 2022 |language=ru |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527054703/https://www.rbc.ru/politics/27/05/2022/628ffbdd9a7947f3836a687e |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2022-05-27 |title=Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in eastern Donbas region |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-squeezes-ukrainian-strongholds-in-eastern-donbas-region |access-date=2022-05-27 |work=] |agency=] |language=en |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528195953/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-squeezes-ukrainian-strongholds-in-eastern-donbas-region |url-status=live }}</ref> a statement confirmed by the ].<ref name="ISW_May26" /> |
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The next day, however, ] said that the battle for control of the city was still ongoing,<ref name=":1" /> and their forces were continuing to hold the southwestern and northeastern districts, while other Ukrainian officials acknowledged most of Lyman, including the city center, was under Russian control.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest Developments in Ukraine: May 27 |date=27 May 2022 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-may-27/6591796.html |access-date=2022-05-28 |publisher=] |language=en |quote=Russian forces in eastern Ukraine captured the centre of the railway hub town of Lyman and encircled most of Sievierodonetsk, Ukrainian officials acknowledged on Friday, as Kyiv's forces fell back in the face of Moscow's biggest advance for weeks, though Ukraine insisted its forces were still holding firm at new defensive lines in the eastern Donbas region, Reuters reported. Ukrainian officials acknowledged that Russia had captured most of Lyman. But the defense ministry said forces were still holding out in northeastern and southwestern districts, blocking the Russians from launching an advance towards Sloviansk, a major city a half-hour drive further southwest. |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528164138/https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-may-27/6591796.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the ] also assessed most of the town had come under Russian control by 27 May.<ref name="UK">{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia-captures-lyman-ukraine-next-stage-of-ukraine-invasion-uk-intelligence|title=Russia captures strategically important town ahead of 'next stage' of Ukraine invasion: UK intelligence|publisher=]|date=28 May 2022|last=Nerozzi|first=Timothy H.J.|access-date=1 June 2022}}</ref> Both Russian-backed separatist forces and the Russian military made separate claims of victory on 27 and 28 May.<ref name="telegraph-20220528">{{cite news |date=28 May 2022 |title=Russia claims seizure of key Ukrainian transport hub in boost for Putin |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/05/28/russia-claims-seizure-key-ukrainian-transport-hub-boost-putin/ |url-access=limited |access-date=28 May 2022 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528133035/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/05/28/russia-claims-seizure-key-ukrainian-transport-hub-boost-putin/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-27 |title=Russia takes small cities, aims to widen east Ukraine battle |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-donetsk-9c8eff24e02f795fd411a3edb968c926 |access-date=2022-05-28 |publisher=] |language=en |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527172538/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-donetsk-9c8eff24e02f795fd411a3edb968c926 |url-status=live }}</ref> Early on 30 May, the Ukrainian military acknowledged Russian forces had consolidated in Lyman and were preparing to attack towards ].<ref name="interfax" /> |
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The next day, however, ] said that the battle for control of the city was still ongoing,<ref name=":1" /> and their forces were continuing to hold the southwestern and northeastern districts, while other Ukrainian officials acknowledged most of Lyman, including the city center, was under Russian control.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest Developments in Ukraine: May 27 |date=27 May 2022 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-may-27/6591796.html |access-date=2022-05-28 |publisher=] |language=en |quote=Russian forces in eastern Ukraine captured the centre of the railway hub town of Lyman and encircled most of Sievierodonetsk, Ukrainian officials acknowledged on Friday, as Kyiv's forces fell back in the face of Moscow's biggest advance for weeks, though Ukraine insisted its forces were still holding firm at new defensive lines in the eastern Donbas region, Reuters reported. Ukrainian officials acknowledged that Russia had captured most of Lyman. But the defense ministry said forces were still holding out in northeastern and southwestern districts, blocking the Russians from launching an advance towards Sloviansk, a major city a half-hour drive further southwest. |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528164138/https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-may-27/6591796.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the ] also assessed most of the town had come under Russian control by 27 May.<ref name="UK">{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia-captures-lyman-ukraine-next-stage-of-ukraine-invasion-uk-intelligence|title=Russia captures strategically important town ahead of 'next stage' of Ukraine invasion: UK intelligence|publisher=]|date=28 May 2022|last=Nerozzi|first=Timothy H.J.|access-date=1 June 2022}}</ref> Both Russian-backed separatist forces and the Russian military made separate claims of victory on 27 and 28 May.<ref name="telegraph-20220528">{{cite news |date=28 May 2022 |title=Russia claims seizure of key Ukrainian transport hub in boost for Putin |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/05/28/russia-claims-seizure-key-ukrainian-transport-hub-boost-putin/ |url-access=limited |access-date=28 May 2022 |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528133035/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/05/28/russia-claims-seizure-key-ukrainian-transport-hub-boost-putin/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-27 |title=Russia takes small cities, aims to widen east Ukraine battle |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-donetsk-9c8eff24e02f795fd411a3edb968c926 |access-date=2022-05-28 |publisher=] |language=en |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527172538/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-donetsk-9c8eff24e02f795fd411a3edb968c926 |url-status=live }}</ref> Early on 30 May, the Ukrainian military acknowledged Russian forces had consolidated in Lyman and were preparing to attack towards ].<ref name="interfax" /> |