Separatist forces in Ukraine supported by Moscow said on Friday that they had taken Lyman, a major town on a route linking to important eastern towns still under Kyiv’s control.

Separatist forces, working with Russian soldiers, have “liberated and taken full control of 220 settlements, including Krasny Liman,” the breakaway province of Donetsk claimed on its Telegram channel.

Russia and Ukraine did not provide instant confirmation.

Lyman is on the route to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the capital of the Ukrainian-controlled section of Donetsk, and is located in the north of the eastern Donetsk area.

Moscow is focusing its efforts in Ukraine on securing and increasing its gains in the Donbas area, which borders Russia and is home to pro-Kremlin rebels, as well as along the country’s southern shore.

Russian and Moscow-appointed authorities in the southern area of Kherson, which is completely under Russian administration, and the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia have stated that both territories might become part of Russia.

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