(LYMAN, DONETSK OBLAST) – Ukrainian military officers have captured a group of Russian soldiers who infiltrated residential buildings in the Lyman area, according to a report by Militarnyi citing the Third Army Corps.
The incident occurred during a building sweep conducted to identify and remove Russian personnel who had entered the city covertly. The enemy group consisted of three Russian soldiers, the Third Army Corps said.
The commander of the 3rd Mechanised Battalion of the 63rd Separate Mechanised Brigade, along with the battalion’s deputy chief of staff and a platoon commander, independently decided to eliminate the threat after receiving intelligence about the infiltration.
According to the corps, the officers, identified by the call signs Granat, Pyatnadtsat and Orel, launched a preemptive assault on the enemy position. The Russian soldiers had taken shelter in a basement, where they installed an external antenna to maintain communication with their command.
Ukrainian forces reported that the infiltrators were equipped with four loaded ammunition magazines, thermobaric grenades, thermal imaging cloaks, radios, power banks and a limited supply of food.
Military officials noted that such infiltration groups are typically supported by reconnaissance drones and later resupplied by unmanned aerial vehicles. The aim is to remain hidden for at least a day, allowing reinforcements to arrive and enabling further advances.
According to Ukrainian military assessments, Russian forces are increasingly avoiding direct assaults and instead attempting to move behind Ukrainian positions to create panic and force frontline units to withdraw.
The Ukrainian assault was coordinated using drones to monitor enemy movements. After a brief firefight, the Russian soldiers chose to surrender.
The 63rd Mechanised Brigade stated that constant patrols and rapid response clearance teams have significantly improved their ability to counter infiltration tactics in the area.
One of the captured Russian soldiers reportedly signed a military contract in 2023. Ukrainian forces said he had previously been imprisoned and appeared to have joined the war in an attempt to escape responsibility for his criminal cases.
