Ukraine makes gains in Sumy and Donetsk regions – ISW
Photo: Ukraine's Defense Forces report new successes (Getty Images)
Over the past few days, Ukraine's Defense Forces have made advances in the Sumy and Donetsk regions and thwarted several Russian offensive operations, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.
Ukrainian troops recently regained control of positions or consolidated their presence north of Sumy. This is evidenced by geolocated footage published on November 1, which shows a Russian strike on a Ukrainian position southwest of Andriivka. Russian sources had previously claimed that the area was under their forces' control.
In northeastern Kharkiv region, southeast of Velykyi Burluk, Russian troops recently attempted to infiltrate Ukrainian positions. In particular, geolocated footage from November 2 confirms a Ukrainian strike on Russian positions south of Khrypuny, northeast of Kharkiv. According to ISW, the strike followed a Russian infiltration attempt.
On November 2 and 3, Russian forces attacked in the Kupiansk direction but failed to advance. Ukrainian defenders, meanwhile, conducted counterattacks north of Kupiansk.
According to a source affiliated with Russia's Western Group of Forces, Russian troops continued their offensive in the Borova direction on November 3. Ukrainian forces, in turn, counterattacked northeast of Borova. However, ISW found no evidence of Russian advances in this section of the front.
In the Lyman direction, Russian forces also continued assault operations on November 2 and 3, including in and around the city. However, their attempts were unsuccessful, while Ukrainian forces launched counterattacks northeast and southeast of Lyman.
In addition, ISW found new evidence of previous Ukrainian advances in Piskunivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka, settlements located northeast and southeast of Sloviansk, respectively.
Near Kostiantynivka and southwest of Druzhkivka, along the Kazennyi Torets River, Russian forces concentrated their attacks on November 2 and 3. However, they failed to advance in these areas.
In the Dobropillia direction, Russian forces conducted the fewest assaults over these two days since at least August 1, 2026. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops launched a total of 13 attacks there on November 2 and 3.
On November 3, neither Russian nor Ukrainian sources reported any ground combat in the Novopavlivka direction.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces conducted limited offensive operations on November 2 and 3 but made no gains.
Russian troops also continued their offensive operations in the Huliaipole direction on November 2 and 3, but no confirmed changes to the frontline were recorded. Meanwhile, on November 2, a Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces had allegedly advanced west of Hirke, located west of Huliaipole.
In western Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces continued offensive operations on November 2 and 3 but failed to confirm any territorial gains. Ukrainian forces conducted counterattacks south of Orikhiv in this sector.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported on the scale and aftermath of the Ukrainian Defense Forces' attack on Russia overnight on November 4.
It was also reported how Ukraine's air defenses performed during Russia's latest aerial assault.
