04.05.2026
Fierce fighting continues on the front line in Ukraine between the Defense Forces and the Russian occupation army. Thus, Russian troops are currently increasing pressure in the Kupyansk direction and have conducted infiltration missions in the area of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast and near Dobropillya in Zaporizhia Oblast.
Instead, Ukrainian soldiers advanced northwest of Orekhov: the Russian Defense Ministry’s statements about the capture of several settlements in this direction have been refuted. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on the situation on the front.
Sumy region
In the north of Sumy region, the Russians continued offensive operations the day before, but did not advance.
Viktor Tregubov, a spokesman for the Joint Forces Group, reported on May 3 that Russian troops are trying to advance along the border of Sumy Oblast and further into the region, especially in the area of Grabovskoye and Myropyl.
Meanwhile, one of the Russian Z-bloggers criticized unnamed “colleagues” for statements about the situation in Sumy region based on the words of individual sources. He was outraged that they, having listened to individual “all-out arsonists” from the direction, questioned Russian statements about the capture of Korchakivka in Sumy region.
Kharkiv region
In the north of the Kharkiv region, Russian attacks also did not bring the occupiers any confirmed successes. Although Russian propagandists claimed that the occupiers had allegedly entered Karaichne.
Meanwhile, UAV pilots from one of the Ukrainian units said that at the end of April in the Kharkiv region they managed to destroy a Russian command and staff vehicle and the “Zhitel” R-330Zh electronic warfare system.
There were no reports of fighting in the Velyky Burlutsk direction from either the Russian or Ukrainian sides.
In the Kupyansk direction, the occupiers became more active.
According to Tregubov, the Russians are pressing on Kupyansk through Golubivka from the north, as well as from the east. In February and March, there was a certain lull on this section of the front: the occupiers were busy with active rotations.
The occupiers resumed their activity in April, taking advantage of the fact that the appearance of leaves on the trees makes it easier for them to carry out infiltrations, and spring rains and fog reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone strikes.
Russian propagandists claimed that the occupiers had allegedly advanced into Podyly, east of Kupyansk.
The occupiers also stated that Russian troops attacked south and southwest of Borova on May 3.
Donetsk region
Russian forces are stepping up attacks on the heights northeast of Sloviansk and recently resumed night assaults in the area – following Ukrainian counterattacks.
Dmytro Zaporozhets, a spokesman for the 11th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported on May 3 that Russian troops are intensifying attempts to seize heights near Zakitne (northeast of Sloviansk), from which Ukrainian troops can launch drone and artillery strikes on Russian troops in the lowlands east of Sloviansk.
Zaporozhets stated that Russian troops resumed night assaults after the night of April 16-17, using thermal cloaks, and that the occupiers intend to involve rear personnel in infantry assaults due to heavy losses.
A Russian military blogger claimed that Russian troops had advanced to the O0527 Prishyb-Shandrygolovye road northwest of Liman.
Russian troops carried out infiltration missions in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
Geolocation videos released on May 2 and 3 captured Ukrainian forces launching strikes on Russian positions in the eastern part of Kostyantynivka, the southern part of Stepanivka, and the center of Dovha Balka (both towns southwest of Kostyantynivka). This was, according to ISW, an infiltration mission.
Geolocation-tracked video footage released on April 30 shows Ukrainian forces striking a Russian serviceman on the Donetsk Railway southeast of Kostyantynivka, in what ISW assessed was an infiltration mission that took place earlier than within the past 24 hours.
On May 3, Russian troops continued ground offensives east and southeast of Dobropillya, as well as northwest, southwest, and west of Pokrovsk, but made no progress.
Also, the day before, Russian troops continued ground offensives in the direction of Novopavlivka, but did not achieve confirmed progress.
A Russian military blogger, meanwhile, claimed that Russian troops had allegedly captured eastern Novopavlivka to the eastern (left) bank of the Solona River.
On May 3, Russian forces continued limited ground offensives southeast of Oleksandrivka, but did not advance as Ukrainian forces reportedly counterattacked in the area.
Zaporizhia region
On May 3, Russian forces continued infiltration missions northwest and southwest of Hulyaipol.
Geolocation videos released on April 30 show a Ukrainian strike on a Russian serviceman in the windbreak west of Dobropillya, which ISW assessed was an infiltration mission that had not occurred within the previous 24 hours.
A Russian source claims that a Russian interception unit is allegedly operating in the Zaporizhia region, probably referring to the Hulyaipol direction. According to the Russian military, these are drone operators from the special interception unit “Krystal” (Eastern Group of Forces of the Russian Armed Forces), who are striking Ukrainian troops, and also, probably, the Russians themselves, who are retreating or refusing to attack.
“ISW has observed various reports throughout the war that Russian forces have used blockade units to coerce Russian soldiers into combat, and it is noteworthy that a Russian military blogger identified the named blockade unit operating on the front lines. It is unclear from the Russian military blogger’s reports whether the special blockade unit “Krystal” is conducting operations typical of blockade units in addition to drone operations against Ukrainian forces,” ISW noted.
Russian military bloggers are increasingly admitting that Ukrainian troops are counterattacking northwest of Orekhov.
Geolocation footage published on May 3 shows that Ukrainian troops have advanced south of Lukyanivske (northwest of Orekhov), and Russian military bloggers on May 3 stated that Ukrainian troops have taken control of Lukyanivske and advanced southwest of it, as well as north of Stepovoye (west of Orekhov).
“Reports from military bloggers indicate that Russian forces are likely not holding positions in Pavlovka, Novoboykivske, or southern Magdanylivka, as well as in the fields south of Lukyanivske or east of Stepnogorsk (all northwest of Orekhov), contrary to Russian statements,” ISW noted.
Analysts noted that a Kremlin-linked Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces were doing nothing to improve the situation in the area. Another Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces no longer fully control the Lukyanivske-Novoyakovlivka area (northwest of Orekhov), but that the area is now roughly evenly divided between Ukrainian and Russian positions.
“These reports confirm Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets’ April 29 report that Ukrainian forces had advanced south of Primorske, while Russian forces held only limited positions in southern Primorske. [ISW] expanded the Ukrainian counteroffensive range in its control of the area largely based on Russian-provided maps and Mashovets’ reports,” the analysts added.
Kherson region
On May 3, Russian forces continued limited ground attacks northeast of Kherson, but made no progress.
As OBOZ.UA reported, ISW previously stated that rising oil prices will not save the Kremlin. Analysts assessed the effect of Ukraine’s strikes on refineries and pointed to problems in the Russian economy.
ISW also believes that the Ukrainian strikes set back the development of Russia’s oil refining industry by December 2009 – at least in terms of average daily oil refining volumes.