Russian Main Effort: Eastern Ukraine

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Kharkiv Oblast

Russian objective: Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border to create a defensible buffer zone with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City

Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast and the Velykyi Burluk direction on September 4 and 5 but did not advance.[18] A source reporting on the Russian Northern GoF claimed that Ukrainian forces are counterattacking and regaining lost positions near Hoptivka and Kudiivka (both north of Kharkiv City).[19]

Russian milbloggers continued to baselessly claim that Russian forces have encircled Ukrainian forces between the Vovchansk and Velykyi Burluk directions but did not present any evidence of the alleged encirclement.[20]

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Oskil River

Russian objective: Cross the Oskil River in Kharkiv Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast

Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kupyansk direction on September 4 and 5 but did not make confirmed advances.[21] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced west of Petro-Ivanivka (northeast of Kupyansk).[22] Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces are counterattacking near Zapadne (north of Kupyansk) and Dvorichne (northeast of Kupyansk).[23]

The area between Ridkodub and Nove (both southeast of Borova) is reportedly a contested “gray zone.”[24] A source reporting on the Russian Western GoF claimed that there is no clear frontline in the area between Ridkodub and Nove (both southeast of Borova) due to constant fighting.

Russian forces are reportedly tailoring their battlefield air interdiction (BAI) campaigns to each direction within the Russian Western GoF’s area of responsibility. A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces in the Kupyansk and Borova directions have been focusing on striking Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in both the near and deep rears, whereas those in the Lyman direction are more focused on near rear strikes, including strikes against crossings over the Siverskyi Donets River.[25] The milblogger assessed that the different strike priorities depend on the terrain and the configuration of the front but that all the strike campaigns aim to restrict Ukrainian forces’ movement and ability to supply their forward units.

Ukrainian forces continued their intermediate-range strike campaign against Russian military assets in occupied Luhansk Oblast. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian repair base in Sokolohirsk (roughly 50 kilometers from the front) on September 4.[26]

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Donetsk Oblast

Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas, and advance into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Slovyansk direction on September 4 and 5 but did not advance.[27]

Russian milbloggers continue to contest official Russian claims of advances north of Slovyansk amid continued cognitive warfare efforts to aggrandize Russian advances in the area. A Russian source published footage on September 5 purporting to show a Russian servicemember walking through Svyatohirsk (north of Slovyansk), which Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Russian forces seized on September 1.[28] This footage was archival and doctored, however, including a voiceover that was not featured in the original footage.[29] A Russian milblogger acknowledged on September 5 that Russian personnel doctored the archival footage by including a voiceover and removing the original watermark.[30] The milblogger also acknowledged that there is no credible evidence that Russian forces seized Svyatohirsk and that the nearest Russian positions are about 10 kilometers from the settlement across rough terrain. A source reporting on the Russian Western GoF also claimed on September 5 that Ukrainian forces conducted counterattacks near Drobysheve (northeast of Slovyansk and east of Svyatohirsk), indicating that Ukrainian forces maintain positions significantly east of Svyatohirsk and that Russian forces have likely not advanced west of Drobysheve.[31] Doctored and AI-generated footage is a core element of Moscow’s cognitive warfare effort that aims to project an inflated image of Russian advances in Ukraine.[32]

Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area on September 4 and 5 but did not make confirmed advances.[33] The Russian MoD claimed on September 5 that Russian forces seized Kurtivka (northwest of Kostyantynivka).[34] A Russian milblogger assessed that Russian forces aim to use Kurtivka to cut off Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka from Druzhkivka, enabling the seizure of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Osykove (all northwest of Kostyantynivka).[35] ISW has not assessed evidence that Russian forces have advanced anywhere near Kurtivka, and the closest assessed Russian-controlled areas are roughly 10 kilometers away from Kurtivka.

Russian forces continue infiltration missions in the Dobropillya tactical area. Ukrainian forces struck a Russian soldier in southeastern Matyasheve (south of Dobropillya), according to geolocated footage published on September 5, after what ISW assesses was a Russian infiltration mission.[36] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces have seized half of the buildings in Matyasheve and that Russian forces pushed Ukrainian forces out of Novohryshyne (just west of Matyasheve).[37] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in the direction of Matyasheve and Shevchenko (south of Chernihivka).[38] Russian milbloggers also claimed that Russian forces advanced from Chernihivka (southeast of Dobropillya) into Dobropillya, south of Vesele (northeast of Dobropillya), and to eastern Dobropillya (a smaller settlement south of the town of Dobropillya).[39]

A Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger emphasized the importance of securing supply lines for Russian efforts both south and east of Dobropillya. The milblogger assessed that Russian forces aim to secure the flanks of the units attacking Hannivka (just east of Dobropillya) while enveloping Ukrainian positions near Zolotyi Kolodyaz (northeast of Dobropillya) from the east.[40] The milblogger claimed that Russian advances between Novohryshyne (south of Dobropillya) and Myrne (south of Novohryshyne) aim to secure rear logistics near Shevchenko (southwest of Novohryshyne), a major supply hub for Russian forces attacking the Dobropillya area from the south.

Russian forces continued limited offensive operations in the Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, and Oleksandrivka directions on September 4 and 5 but did not advance.[41]

Ukrainian forces continued their intermediate-range strike campaign against Russian military assets in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Kamaz truck along the M-14 Rostov-on-Don-Crimea highway northwest of Demyanivka (roughly 93 kilometers from the frontline), according to geolocated footage published on September 4.[42]