Russia-Ukraine war: ISW battle map as of August 4th

Situation in Kharkiv and Luhansk regions

Russian forces continued their advance, reaching the Kupyansk-Svatove line on August 3rd. Geolocation imagery released on August 2nd reveals that Russian troops have moved closer to the N26 highway between Kupyansk and Svatove in the southern Novoselivka area (14 km northwest of Svatove).

A prominent Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces had progressed north of Novoselivka, but the exact front line within the settlement remains uncertain. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) maintained that their troops made only limited progress near Vilshana (15 km north of Kupyansk) and Pershotravneve (22 km east of Kupyansk) in the Kharkiv region, as well as Kuzemivka in Luhansk region (15 km northwest of Svatove).

According to Russian sources, on August 2nd, Russian forces moved near Lymanske Pershe (12 km east of Kupyansk). The Russian military blogger asserted that Russian forces held a five-kilometer bridgehead on the western bank of the Zherebets River near Karmazynivka (13 km southwest of Svatove), although ISW did not observe visual confirmation of significant Russian presence on the western bank of the river.

Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Eastern Military Group, reported that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions near Synkivka (8 km northeast of Kupyansk) and Novoselivka.

Ukrainian forces maintained limited offensive actions along the Kupyansk-Svatove line and did not advance on August 3rd. The Russian MoD stated that their forces repelled a Ukrainian ground attack near Novoselivka.

Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kreminna area and reportedly made progress on August 3rd. The Russian military blogger claimed that units of the 2nd Corps of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" captured Ukrainian positions near Bilohorivka (12 km southwest of Kreminna).

On August 2nd, Russian sources indicated that Russian forces had advanced in the areas of Torskoye (14 km west of Kreminna) and Serebrianske Forest (10 km southwest of Kreminna).

Ukrainian forces continued limited offensive actions in the Kreminna area and advanced on August 3rd. Geolocation imagery from August 3rd showed Ukrainian forces advancing west of Dybrova (5 km southwest of Kreminna). The Russian MoD claimed that their forces repelled Ukrainian ground attacks near Bilohorivka and Berestove (30 km south of Kreminna).

Donbas clashes

Ukrainian forces persisted with counteroffensive actions on the Bakhmut direction, but by August 3rd, they hadn't achieved confirmed successes. General Colonel Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated that Ukrainian troops continue gradual advancement on the Bakhmut front. Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesperson for the Eastern Military Group of Ukraine, reported that Ukrainian forces were continuing an advance on the southern flank of Bakhmut.

Cherevatiy added that Ukrainian forces are progressing daily by hundreds of meters along the Bakhmut direction and are not engaging in direct frontal assaults to preserve personnel. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces intensified offensive actions in the Bakhmut direction, particularly around Klyshchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut), attempting to breach Russian defenses on the outskirts of Bakhmut itself.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated that units of the Southern Military Group of Russian Armed Forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Klyshchiivka.

On August 3rd, Russian forces carried out limited and unsuccessful counterattacks in the vicinity of Bakhmut. Ukraine's General Staff reported that Ukrainian troops repelled Russian assaults to the south and southeast of Ivanivske (6 km west of Bakhmut), while Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to regain lost positions west of Klyshchiivka, to the south of Andriivka (10 km southwest of Bakhmut), and to the west of Kurdyumivka (13 km southwest of Bakhmut). Russian sources stated that Russian forces counterattacked near Klyshchiivka and Kurdyumivka, but didn't provide details of the outcomes.

Russian sources claim that on August 3rd, Ukrainian forces continued their advance along the Avdiivka-Donetsk sector, yet without making significant progress. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that units of the Russian Southern Military Group repelled Ukrainian attacks near Krasnohorivka (though it remains unclear whether the report refers to a locality south or north of Avdiivka) and Maryinka (27 km southwest of Avdiivka). They also asserted successful counterattacks against retreating Ukrainian forces in these areas. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) hasn't observed visual confirmation of recent Russian counterattack successes on the Avdiivka-Donetsk front.

On August 3rd, Russian forces continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk front, but didn't achieve any confirmed successes. Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions to the north and southeast of Avdiivka and to the southeast of Pervomaiske (11 km southwest of Avdiivka), as well as near Maryinka.

A Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces attacked the southwestern approaches to Avdiivka, pushing Ukrainian forces away from unidentified positions in that area. The blogger also asserted a successful assault near Vesele (5 km northeast of Avdiivka) and noted Russian forces advancing closer to Avdiivka from the northeast. However, ISW has yet to observe visual confirmation of recent Russian gains near Avdiivka.

On August 2nd and 3rd, Ukrainian forces continued to shell Russian rear areas in Donetsk region. Geolocation imagery published on August 3rd showed Ukrainian forces targeting a Russian "Buk" anti-aircraft system with a HIMARS missile near Rota (17 km southeast of Bakhmut).

Geolocation imagery published on August 2nd displayed Ukrainian forces striking a Russian BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launcher system to the southwest of Olenivka (7 km south of Donetsk city).

"Southern Axis"

Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations in the western part of the Donetsk region and reportedly made progress on August 3rd. The Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces advanced in the vicinity of Mykilske (27 km southwest of Donetsk city).

Russian forces initiated offensive operations in the western Donetsk region but didn't advance on August 3rd. Russian sources asserted that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions near Vuhledar (30 km southwest of Donetsk city) and reported ongoing fighting in that area.

Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations in the western part of Donetsk and the eastern Zaporizhzhia regions, yet on August 3rd, they did not make significant advances. Ukraine's General Staff reported that Ukrainian troops continued their offensive actions along the Berdyansk (Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk region) direction.

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked Russian troops near Urozhaine (9 km south of Velyka Novosilka). A Russian military blogger asserted that Ukrainian forces carried out limited ground attacks near Pryyutne (16 km southwest of Velyka Novosilka).

Russian forces initiated offensive operations in the western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhia regions but did not advance on August 3rd. Geolocation images as of August 2nd show Russian forces maintaining positions in Novodonetske (12 km southeast of Velyka Novosilka).

Russian sources assert that Russian forces have held positions in Novodonetske for several weeks, making it unlikely that the geolocation images indicate recent Russian advancements in that area. Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to regain lost positions west of Staromaiorske (9 km south of Velyka Novosilka) and near Urozhaine. Russian sources claimed that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions near Urozhaine and Staromaiorske.

Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations in the western Zaporizhzhia region on August 3rd and reportedly achieved recent success. Ukraine's General Staff announced that Ukrainian troops continued their offensive actions along the Melitopol (western Zaporizhzhia region) direction.

Colonel Mykola Urshalovych, the Chief of the Planning Department of Ukraine's National Guard, disclosed that Ukrainian forces recently advanced up to 650 meters into Russian defense along a 1.5-kilometer front on the Melitopol direction.

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked Russian forces near Robotyne (10 km south of Orikhove). Russian sources continued to differ in opinions about the expected scale of the Ukrainian attack near Robotyne, and Ukrainian forces are likely to be conducting limited attacks in this area.

It is reported that on August 3rd, Ukrainian forces continued their actions along the Dnipro River. A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces attempted several times to cross the Dnipro River and establish themselves on the eastern (left) bank of Kherson Oblast on August 3rd and over the past week.

Another Russian military blogger asserted that battles were ongoing near the islands in the Dnipro River floodplains and near the Antonivsky Bridge, as Ukrainian forces persist in attempting to send small airborne groups across the river.

On August 3rd, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced official restrictions on transit through the Kerch Strait. The Russian Ministry of Defense declared the establishment of an inspection zone in the Kerch Strait for vessels heading into the strait from the Black Sea.

Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Defense informed that passage through the Kerch Strait would be limited for ships and vessels of the Russian Navy, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya), as well as vessels following the designated maritime paths and recommended routes outlined by the Ministry of Defense, or bound for Kerch. The regulations apply to current ports during daylight hours.

This announcement from the Ministry of Defense further formalizes the statement made by the operational headquarters of Krasnodar Krai on July 28th regarding similar restrictions.