Ukraine advances on two key fronts as Russian attacks stall, ISW says
Ukrainian forces increase pressure on the Russian army (photo: GeneralStaff.ua)
Ukraine's Defense Forces managed to improve their battlefield positions in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Moreover, they successfully disrupted a number of new offensive operations by Russian forces, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Situation on the front line in the Kharkiv region
On September 14 and 15, Russian forces continued assault operations in the Kupiansk and Borova directions, but without success.
Ukrainian forces conducted counterattacks and retook positions from the enemy. According to a source affiliated with Russia's Western Grouping of Forces, Ukrainian troops attacked Russian salients north and southeast of Kupiansk on September 15.
Russian forces are trying to reduce the Ukrainian bridgehead southeast of Kupiansk as their position near the city deteriorates.
Ukrainian Joint Forces Task Force Spokesperson Colonel Viktor Trehubov said on September 15 that Russian forces had increased their activity along the left bank of the Oskil River, particularly in the direction of Kivsharivka. There, they are trying to narrow the area held by Ukrainian forces.
According to Trehubov, Russian units are largely unable to establish positions on the right bank of the Oskil closer to Kupiansk and are gradually losing ground there. He also noted that Russia is unlikely to have sufficient resources for a large-scale offensive in the coming weeks. At the same time, the situation could change if the Russian command deploys additional forces to this sector.
Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations in the Kupiansk direction but have made no significant advances. According to analysts, autumn conditions could contribute to further stabilization of the front line.
Situation on the front line in the Donetsk region
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces advanced southwest of Dobropillia. In particular, geolocated footage published on September 14 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced in the southwestern part of Bilytske, north of Pokrovsk.
In addition, Ukrainian forces may have advanced or maintained their positions in the western part of the settlement, despite Russian claims that their troops had allegedly advanced there.
Geolocated footage also confirms Russian strikes on Ukrainian positions west of Novyi Donbas, located east of Dobropillia. This, in turn, may indicate that Ukrainian forces advanced in the area or continue to hold their positions.
On September 15, Ukrainian forces officially confirmed for the first time that they were conducting a counteroffensive operation against the Russian salient northwest of Lyman.
Ukrainian 3rd Army Corps Commander Brigadier General said that Ukrainian forces are conducting Operation Vivaldi, targeting Russian positions north of Lyman.
"Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi has achieved the operationally significant objective of disrupting the Russian effort to conduct a wide encirclement of Ukraine's Fortress Belt," the analysts emphasized.
Situation on other parts of the front
On September 14 and 15, Russian forces continued assault operations east of Sloviansk, including near Kryva Luka and toward Mykolaivka, but failed to advance.
On the same days, Russian forces attacked near Kostiantynivka, southwest of the city, and toward Druzhkivka. At the same time, no confirmed Russian advances were recorded in these areas.
In the Huliaipole direction, Russian forces also continued offensive operations on September 14 and 15, but without success. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces recently advanced or maintained their positions in the western Zaporizhzhia region. Russian units conducted limited attacks west of Orikhiv.
New details have emerged about Ukraine's advance in the Donetsk region.
It was also reported that Brigadier General Denys "Redis" Prokopenko took command of the Azov grouping of forces, which will operate in Donbas.
