Ukraine's forces make new gains in Donbas and Zaporizhzhia, ISW says
Photo: The Ukrainian Armed Forces are preventing the Russian army from advancing (Getty Images)
Over the past several days, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have managed to thwart a number of offensive operations by the Russian army, as well as improve their positions in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the direction of Velykyi Burluk. However, on October 6, Ukrainian troops conducted counterattacks in the area. According to ISW's assessment, there is no confirmation of Russian forces' advance.
The Ukrainian military's recent gains north and northeast of Lyman as part of Operation Vivaldi are affecting the situation in the Borova direction, located north of Lyman.
One of the Russian milbloggers claimed that at least 8,000 Russian servicemen have left the area of responsibility of the Russian Western Grouping of Forces, which covers the area from Kupiansk to Lyman. In addition, it is claimed that over the past six months, the grouping suffered more than 1,000 casualties every week due to Ukrainian counterattacks.
On October 5 and 6, Russian forces attacked near Lyman and to the northwest, north, northeast, east, southwest, and south of the city. But they failed to advance.
A source affiliated with the Russian Western Grouping of Forces also claims that Ukrainian troops are attempting to infiltrate Yampil, southeast of Lyman, through the area of Myrne, northeast of the city.
Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing along the Zherebets River, using ravines, forest belts, and terrain features for concealed movement.
One of the Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops are attempting to infiltrate Rai-Oleksandrivka, east of Sloviansk. According to him, Russian forces allegedly destroyed all Ukrainian groups that attempted to infiltrate the area. At the same time, available evidence indicates that Ukrainian troops control the settlement.
On October 5 and 6, Russian forces also continued offensive operations east of Kramatorsk, near Tykhonivka, but no advance was recorded.
At the same time, Ukrainian forces are reportedly expanding the area of their counterattacks in the Kostiantynivka direction. A Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger claimed on October 5 that Ukrainian troops had allegedly begun counterattacking toward Rusynyi Yar in early October 2026.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces had already conducted counterattacks in other areas of the Kostiantynivka direction. Reports of activity near Rusynyi Yar may indicate a further expansion of the area of Ukrainian operations. This was likely facilitated by the recent reorganization of the Ukrainian command structure in the Donetsk region.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine have also recently advanced or maintained their positions in the western Zaporizhzhia region. Geolocated footage indicates that they are holding positions southeast of Novoselivka, west of Orikhiv. This is occurring in an area where Russian sources had previously claimed the presence of their forces.
Earlier, we reported on the Ukrainian troops' new successes as part of Operation Vivaldi. The defenders showed new footage from the third season.
The Defense Forces also advanced in the Sumy region.
