A representative of Ukraine’s 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade says fighting is intense in the city of Lyman in Donetsk region. According to him, Russian forces keep rotating in fresh troops, including what he described as Black mercenaries.
Rostyslav Yashchyshyn, head of communications for the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, described the situation on air with Kyiv24. He said the unit urgently needs reinforcements.
“The situation is very, very difficult - I’ve said this more than once: Lyman needs reinforcement, more crews operating UAVs, additional infantry, additional forces to hold this settlement, which is extremely important for both Ukraine and Russia,” the brigade representative said.
Yashchyshyn reminded viewers that the unit has been “holding this ground by the skin of their teeth,” containing Russian advances around Lyman for two and a half years, but that Russian forces continue to storm Ukrainian positions.
“We’re talking about a very large number of enemy forces that keep coming without pause. No matter how many we destroy, they keep bringing in new troops. I don’t know - maybe they’ve run out of their ‘Ivans,’ the mercenaries from Uzbekistan have run out - now there are dark-skinned young men, apparently from Africa,” the spokesman said.
He added that Ukrainian troops do not yet have documents or other identifiers to confirm this and have not taken prisoners so far.
“Therefore we cannot say where they’re from, but there’s a suspicion they are Africans,” Yashchyshyn said.
As of 8 a.m. on December 1, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russian forces attacked 11 times on the Lyman axis, attempting to punch into Ukrainian defenses near Tverdokhlibove, Novoyehorivka, Torske, Novoselivka, Zarichne, and toward Chernishchyna and Korovii Yar.
On November 21, Yashchyshyn said Lyman is becoming a key target for Russia’s forces because seizing it would open the way for attacks on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
On October 24, the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skala” said Ukrainian troops had liberated Torske in Donetsk region on the Lyman axis.
On June 10, The Telegraph reported that Russians have been deceitfully recruiting Africans for the war, offering “big salaries” at a shampoo factory.
