Ukraine Pushes Forward in 4 Frontline Sectors as Russia Struggles for Gains
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/85320
Ukraine Pushes Forward in 4 Frontline Sectors as Russia Struggles for Gains
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/85320
5 Comments
[Ukrainian forces](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESbgHrOzAVwcaKNb1C-FcCO7FXE8KcxTpZRVN-YsNrZNogzLb2b-8-qkG_Y70Neuy91j6UDH0yWllBQEnMjkwPSTfB4kqM1rVR2JuVT6xS9NEIJo7u5mL25XJcmy42R6-vQgY0K3i8WwIwRQuq5YUS) recently advanced in several frontline sectors and continued counterattacks in others, putting pressure on Russian positions from the Kupyansk area in the Kharkiv region to the southern front.
The Institute for the Study of War ([ISW](https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-23-2026/)) reported recent Ukrainian gains in the Kupyansk sector, the Chasiv Yar tactical area, and near Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukrainian forces are also continuing counterattacks southeast of Lyman in the Donetsk region and have recently advanced or held positions near Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region.
# Ukrainian forces advance near Kupyansk and Chasiv Yar
In the Kupyansk sector, Ukrainian forces recently advanced west of Kalynove, north of Kupyansk, according to geolocated footage published Sept. 22.
A source associated with [Russia](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESXQHrOzAVWnEX5vooDgyZopgx3adfZru64Te07lBHv0w9luiCcuUa-Nz1JXElOKvAzmu3Ol2-a5pkOOVAborWLKZuBLzddkreAHCGvNLf-0zvVrHeQLQW3lwvLOzZZQ)’s Western Grouping of Forces also claimed on Sept. 23 that Ukrainian troops were operating near Kalynove and north of Kindrashivka, southwest of Kupyansk. ISW said these reported positions could improve Ukrainian flanking positions around the city.
Ukrainian forces also recently advanced in the Chasiv Yar tactical area while Russian troops conducted infiltration missions. Geolocated footage cited by ISW showed Ukrainian advances in eastern and central Molocharka, southwest of Chasiv Yar, as well as east of Stinka, northeast of Kostyantynivka.
ISW also reported that Ukrainian forces struck Russian positions in several areas west of Chasiv Yar following Russian infiltration attempts.
# Ukraine continues counterattacks near Lyman
Ukrainian forces are also continuing counterattacks in the Lyman direction, including southeast of the city, ISW reported.
A source associated with Russia’s Western Grouping of Forces claimed that Ukrainian troops were counterattacking toward Yampil and the Zherebets River. ISW said this suggests Ukrainian forces are likely counterattacking from positions along the T-05-13 Lyman-Siversk road southwest of Yampil.
A Russian milblogger also claimed that Ukrainian forces were regularly counterattacking from Ozerne toward Kryva Luka.
Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, provided further details on Ukraine’s tactics north and northwest of Lyman during [Operation Vivaldi](https://www.kyivpost.com/post/84556): Ukrainian forces first established a bridgehead and liberated Serednie before launching counterattacks against Shandryholove.
A Ukrainian battalion commander said some Russian troops encountered during clearing operations were exhausted and starving.
# Ukrainian gains in the Dnipropetrovsk region
Further south, Ukrainian forces recently advanced south and southeast of Novopavlivka, while Russian forces either advanced or held positions in the area, according to ISW.
Ukrainian forces also recently advanced southeast of Oleksandrivka. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported that Ukrainian troops had liberated Shevchenko, advanced about 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) toward Burlatske, and moved north of Vilne Pole.
Mashovets estimated that Ukrainian forces had advanced roughly 8 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) in the area since early August, and reported that Ukrainian troops had reached northern Pavlivka on the eastern bank of the Yanchur River.
# Fighting continues near Orikhiv
In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Ukrainian forces recently advanced or held positions in southern Orikhiv as Russian forces conducted an infiltration mission northeast of the city.
ISW said geolocated footage published Sept. 22 showed Russian strikes on a Ukrainian position in southern Orikhiv, an area Russian forces had previously claimed to hold.
Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian servicemember in central Yehorivka following what ISW assessed was likely another Russian infiltration mission.
# Russian forces also make limited gains
Despite the Ukrainian advances and counterattacks, Russian forces recently advanced near Kostyantynivka and south of Dobropillya, according to ISW.
Russian forces also continued offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv region on Sept. 22 and 23 but made no confirmed advances.
ISW added that Russian and Ukrainian positions in the northern Kharkiv region are heavily intermixed, making it difficult to establish a clear front line. A Ukrainian brigade spokesperson said the two sides’ positions in the area are so intermingled that the battlefield increasingly resembles a “gray zone.”
For all the Kremlin’s talk of inevitable victory, Russia is still struggling to turn years of war into decisive gains while Ukraine keeps taking ground back.
They are wining everyday 💪 for 5 years in a row
The tactic ‘dont tell them they wont notice’ (admittedly I thought it was ridiculous for a time) is working wonders: russians are pushed pretty much all the way to Zherebets river and it is possible that it will be crossed as well.
This pretty much undoes 1.5 years of russian advances and crushes north and east of russian Slovyansk offensive.
This “quiet” operation is already much more successful than ukraine’s 2023 offensive.
>Ukrainian forces also recently advanced in the Chasiv Yar tactical area
Didn’t russia spend a year and lose like 50k dudes capturing that place?