Today, Putin made a claim that might be the most ridiculous thing to come out of the Russian government so far during this war...
He claimed that Russia captured the city of Svyatorhirsk, west of Lyman. For reference, Svyatohirsk is currently nearly 10 km from the nearest Russian-controlled territory, deep inside the Ukrainian tactical rear. There is currently no threat to the city from Russian soldiers, infiltrators, or even DRGs.
In fact, this is an area where Ukraine is actively counterattacking and advancing, and if they are successful, the city will be soon over 17 km from the frontline.
To emphasise how insane this claim is, the city remains fully connected to the rest of Ukraine, with a civilian population, constant flows of humanitarian aid, and municipal officials still operating and recording damage to infrastructure. I even know someone who visited the city this month for a humanitarian aid mission and to talk to locals. There are no Russians in the city, or even nearby.
Either someone is lying to Putin, or this is just an unfathomably stupid propaganda stunt by him aimed at creating the illusion of Russian advances in the Lyman direction.
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1September 2, 2026 10.5K 85 77
