First Retreat For Putin After Annexation As Ukraine Deals Blow To Russia's Donbas Hold In Lyman

Russian troops pulled out from the key eastern city of Lyman after being encircled by Ukrainian forces. Moscow said its troops had “withdrawn to more favourable lines”, downplaying the latest Ukrainian victory. The head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), however, admitted the “situation remains difficult”. Meanwhile, the fall of Lyman infuriated Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov to such an extent that he called for the use of low-yield nuclear weapons