09/5/2026 

The Ukrainian armed forces have recently advanced on several front lines, including the Sloviansk and Novopavlovsk directions. At the same time, Russian troops continue to launch offensives in a number of directions, but analysts have not recorded any confirmed advances by the occupiers in some of them.

Ukrainian military forces are also striking command posts, warehouses, and other important facilities of the Russian army, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The situation in the north of Sumy region

Russia continues to try to create a defensive buffer zone along the international border in Sumy region. At the same time, the Ukrainian side has denied the Russian Defense Ministry’s claims about the alleged capture of Khrapiv region northeast of Sumy.

The Ukrainian brigade operating in the north of Sumy region stated that Russian troops had not made any breakthroughs in the area. Earlier, Ukrainian and open sources have repeatedly denied Russian reports of establishing control over the Khrapiv region.

On September 4, a source connected to the activities of the Russian Group of Forces “North” reported on the plans of the Russian command to rotate units operating southeast of Sumy. This includes, in particular, the 19th battalion of the 80th tank regiment of the 90th tank division, which, according to ISW, operates near Ryasne and Taratutyne.

ISW noted that this is the first confirmation received by the institute of the presence of the 19th Battalion of the 80th Tank Regiment on the territory of Ukraine.

Kharkiv region: Armed Forces of Ukraine hold positions

In the north of Kharkiv region, Ukrainian military forces have recently advanced or maintained their positions.

In particular, Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in the Odradne area east of Kharkiv. A statement from a Ukrainian unit operating in that area indicates that the settlement remains under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, despite Russian claims of its capture.

The Ukrainian military also continues to strike Russian military facilities in the occupied territory of Kharkiv region. On September 4, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the destruction of a Russian command and observation post in occupied Petrivka, northeast of Kupyansk.

Kupyansky and Borovsky directions

Russian troops continue their offensive in the direction of Kupyansk. However, ISW has not found any evidence of their advance.

On September 3 and 4, the occupiers also conducted limited offensive operations in the direction of Borovaya, but, according to ISW, they were unable to advance. In some areas, Ukrainian forces conducted counterattacks.

One of the Russian military bloggers stated that the area of ​​Ridkodub and Novy southeast of Borova is a disputed “gray zone” where the Ukrainian military is conducting counteroffensive operations.

Ukraine also continued to strike Russian military targets in the occupied Luhansk region. On September 4, the General Staff reported the destruction of a fuel and lubricants depot in Rivenky, approximately 125 kilometers from the front line.

Limansky direction

Russian forces continue to attempt to penetrate south of Liman. According to ISW, the occupiers may use gradual penetration tactics to threaten Ukrainian positions and supply routes in the Liman and Sloviansk areas.

Geolocation footage published on September 1 shows that Ukrainian forces struck Russian positions south of the northern part of Dibrova after an attempted infiltration by Russian troops.

At the same time, the Ukrainian military denied Russia’s claims about the capture of Svyatogorsk. Russian military bloggers on September 4 continued to claim that the occupiers were allegedly conducting a “mopping-up” of the city.

A representative of the Ukrainian brigade operating in the Lyman direction stated that Russian sabotage groups are far from Siversky Donets and Svyatohirsk. There were also reports of counterattacks by Ukrainian troops on the southern outskirts of Lyman and in the Drobysheve area.

Thus, the Russian side’s claims of control over Svyatogorsk are not confirmed by the available geolocation data. Vladimir Putin had previously made a statement about the alleged capture of the city.

ISW also noted that in the coming weeks and months, Russia is likely to intensify attacks in the Lyman area due to deteriorating weather conditions. A representative of the Ukrainian brigade suggested that with the onset of cold and rainy weather, the Russian command may intensify its attempts to advance.

Slavic direction: the Armed Forces of Ukraine have an advance

Ukrainian military forces recently advanced east of Sloviansk.

Russian forces are attempting to seize tactical heights in the area to create more favorable conditions for a future offensive on Sloviansk. Meanwhile, geolocation video footage released on September 3 shows recent advances by Ukrainian forces in the area northwest of Rai-Oleksandrivka.

A Russian military blogger on September 4 announced the alleged capture of Nikonorivka, southeast of Sloviansk and east of Kramatorsk. However, ISW notes that a number of pieces of evidence contradict previous statements by the Russian command about a significant advance east of Sloviansk.

In particular, geolocation materials show that Russian troops struck Ukrainian positions in Orihuvatka and along the western bank of the Seversky Donets-Donbas canal. This does not confirm the statements of the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov about the alleged capture of Orihuvatka.

Kostyantynivskyi and Dobropilskyi directions

On September 3 and 4, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the area of ​​Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka, but had no confirmed advance.

Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions that are hindering Russian advances in the Kostyantynivka area. A Russian military blogger linked to the Kremlin acknowledged that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are maintaining positions in Stinky, Chervonye, ​​and Mykolaivka northeast of Kostyantynivka.

Russian military observers also claim that the occupiers are trying to threaten Ukrainian supply routes to Druzhkivka. In their opinion, a possible Russian advance would allow drone repeaters to be brought closer to Ukrainian ground communication lines and complicate the logistics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Russian forces also conducted an infiltration operation in the direction of Dobropillya. Geolocation footage from September 3 shows that Ukrainian forces struck Russian positions in the eastern part of the city after an attempted infiltration by the occupiers.

On September 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the alleged capture of Hruskoye, northeast of Dobropillya, but this claim requires confirmation.

Pokrovsky direction

On September 4, the Ukrainian battalion of unmanned systems reported the intensification of Russian offensive actions in the Pokrov direction.

According to him, during August-September 2026, Russia almost doubled the number of infantry deployed on this section of the front.

At the same time, Ukrainian military forces continue to operate in other areas of the Donetsk region. In particular, the Armed Forces of Ukraine recently advanced towards Novopavlivka. Geolocation materials from September 3 indicate the advance of Ukrainian forces west of Kotlyarivka, near Novopavlivka.

Russian troops conducted limited offensive operations in the direction of Oleksandrivka on September 3 and 4, but had no confirmed advance.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Strikes on Russian Facilities

The Ukrainian military continues its campaign of strikes against Russian military facilities in the occupied territory of the Donetsk region.

On September 4, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the destruction of a Russian drone launch site in occupied Donetsk, approximately 55 kilometers from the front line.

Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian command post in occupied Fedorivka.

Zaporizhia direction

On the southern sector of the front, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the direction of Hulyaipol and in the west of Zaporizhia region on September 3 and 4. At the same time, ISW did not record any confirmed advances by the occupiers.

The goal of the Russian group in this direction remains to hold forward positions, protect rear areas from Ukrainian attacks, and potentially advance to within artillery range of Zaporizhia.

Kherson direction

In the Kherson direction on September 4, neither Russian nor Ukrainian sources reported any ground activity.

As OBOZ.UA reported, the Ukrainian Defense Forces reduced the number of the Russian occupation army by 1,260 invaders over the course of 24 hours on September 4. Russia’s total combat losses in manpower amounted to 1,495,050 people.

https://war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/zsu-prosunulisya-odrazu-na-kilkoh-napryamkah-karti-isw.htm