Lyman is a city located in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, and serves as the administrative center of the Lyman hromada. Prior to the conflict, its population was approximately 20,066 residents. However, as of October 2022, following two battles during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, authorities estimated the population to be around 5,000.

Lyman has been a site of battle in both the initial 2014 invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict. Russian forces captured Lyman on May 27, 2022. During the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive starting on September 10, Ukrainian troops engaged in the Second Battle of Lyman. This engagement led to the withdrawal of Russian forces on October 1, mere weeks after Putin's annexation claim.

Before the war, Lyman played a vital role as a railway hub, managing 30% of Donetsk's railway cargo. The city's economy was significant, with a strong presence in rail transport (35%) and industry (18%). This encompassed various enterprises such as the Donetsk Railway Administration, locomotive depots, maintenance sites, as well as industries like food processing and concrete manufacturing. Moreover, the region boasted more than 80 agricultural ventures, a prominent forestry sector, substantial mink skin production, and a branch of the Donbasnefteprodukt energy company. The city also housed factories producing construction materials and engaging in food canning.

Currently, Russian forces are advancing closer to Lyman after committing a substantial number of troop reserves to a larger offensive in the North-East. Lyman is situated just 11 km away from the nearest Russian troop positions, placing it well within the range of artillery and aerial projectiles that continue to strike the city on a daily basis.