Ukraine has deployed reserves in the Pokrovsk region, stabilizing the situation somewhat. Defenders maintain control over Shchedrye, but fighting continues on the eastern outskirts of the city. According to some sources, Ukraine has resumed the battle for Hryhorivka, a small town east of Myrnohrad that was previously occupied by Russian forces. After a few days of relative calm, Russian troops launched a new offensive to the west, initiating battles for Lysivka (located between Pokrovsk and Shchedrye). If the Russian forces capture this area, it will significantly affect the supply of defensive forces in Shchedrye and hinder units fighting in the southern and eastern parts of the city.
Ukrainian troops west of Donetsk are encircled, with some defenders retreating, abandoning their last positions west of Krasnohorivka (after five months of fighting) and the fortified areas around the village of Novelske. The retreat of Ukrainian forces has been complicated by Russian advances on the western bank of the Volcha River. Fighting is taking place near key towns such as Ukrainsk and Hirnyk, as well as along the Lozo River. The retreat route for the remnants of Ukrainian forces west of Donetsk (estimated at around 3,000 soldiers) passes through the aforementioned rivers.
Russia has intensified operations southwest of Donetsk, encircling Vuhledar. After capturing Vodiane, the city’s supply lines are only accessible via dirt roads. Russian advances south of Vuhledar (where they crossed the Kashlagach River) and progress on the road west of the city, leading to Velyka Novosilka, have worsened the situation for the defenders. Russian forces have captured Pertsystivka, providing access to Kurakhove and nearing Zolotaniivka, which leads to Pokrovsk (both routes head north). The aggressors continue their advance west from Kostiantynivka, previously captured.
Ukrainian forces briefly retook positions north of New York, allowing soldiers besieged at the chemical plant to evacuate. After the Russians drove the Ukrainians out, they entered Nelypivka, located between New York and Toretsk. Russian forces have made further advances in Toretsk, capturing several blocks in the city’s east and advancing westward near New York.
The aggressors are forcing Ukrainian troops out of their last positions east of the Donetsk-Donbas Canal. Russian forces crossed the canal north of the city but have not made significant progress inside it. Northeast of Kupiansk, Russian forces captured the ruins of Synkivka village, which has seen intermittent fighting since February 2023. They have also advanced southeast of the city towards the Oskil River.
Ukraine’s Tavriya Strategic Operations Group confirmed an increase in Russian activity in Kherson Oblast. Some sources report that Russian forces have occupied several large islands at the mouth of the Dnipro River (previously evacuated by Ukrainian troops) and are conducting reconnaissance of its right bank (evacuated in November 2022). Artillery and drone activity from Russian forces has also intensified. It is most likely that Russia’s main goal is to tie down Ukrainian forces in Kherson Oblast and prevent more units from being redeployed to Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts.
The front line in Kharkiv Oblast has stabilized, with both sides conducting limited operations to improve tactical positions. Ukraine’s most recent minor advance took place on September 7. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a September 5 interview with NBC, claimed that Ukraine’s actions in Kharkiv forced Russia to deploy about 60,000 troops there. This statement should be seen as part of an information campaign. Ukrainian and Western sources estimate that Russia’s troop strength in Kharkiv Oblast is no more than 30,000, which is roughly equivalent to Ukraine’s forces in the region.
Russian Airstrikes
On September 3, two “Iskander-M” missiles hit the building of the military communications academy in Poltava, which now serves as one of Ukraine’s military training centers, killing 55 Ukrainian soldiers and injuring 328 others (no civilian casualties were reported). Rescue operations concluded on September 5, with three more people succumbing to their injuries in the following days. This attack marked the highest single confirmed casualty toll (both deaths and injuries combined) since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The next day, Russian missile strikes hit the city of Lviv. Several missiles, including hypersonic “Kinzhal” missiles, struck the city, damaging 188 buildings. Local authorities reported seven deaths and more than 60 injuries. On September 6, five “Iskander-M” missiles struck Pavlohrad, killing one person and injuring 82.
Russia’s suicide drones are destroying energy infrastructure in the defensive rear while also attacking frontline areas. Substations in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk (on September 7 and 9), and Sumy oblasts (on September 7 and 10) were hit. On September 10, an energy facility in Cherkasy Oblast was also struck.
On September 5, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense reported that several drones were shot down after entering the country’s airspace (the Ukrainian Air Force Command had reported one drone entering Belarus earlier that day). According to Ukrainian data, from the morning of September 3 to the early hours of September 10, Russian forces used 39 missiles (with Ukrainian forces claiming to have shot down 11) and 295 Shahed drones (Ukraine reported downing 226).
Ukrainian Actions Against Russia
On September 10, Ukraine launched a new wave of large-scale attacks on Russian territory. Russian reports claimed that 144 Ukrainian drones were shot down, including 20 over Moscow Oblast, with the majority intercepted over Bryansk Oblast (72 drones). Ukraine targeted airports and fuel-energy complexes, though no losses were reported. On September 7, a Ukrainian drone destroyed an ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast. A Ukrainian surface drone attack on Novorossiysk on September 5, however, was unsuccessful.
On September 7, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Service (HUR) carried out cyberattacks on enterprises serving Russia’s defense industry, including a factory in Chelyabinsk and Sibinstrument in Irkutsk. Kyiv claimed to have gained access to 14 servers, destroying internal IT infrastructure by deleting system files, databases, and backups.
On September 7, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Service, pointed out that the Telegram messaging app is one of the main sources of information for Ukrainian citizens, posing a direct threat to national security. He added that while it would be technically difficult to block the app, it could be done.
Western Support for Ukraine
On September 6, the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format took place with the participation of Ukrainian President Zelensky. This was the first meeting since June. The participation of the Ukrainian leader was part of an effort to persuade partners to allow Kyiv to use transferred ballistic missiles (ATACMS) and cruise missiles (Storm Shadow/SCALP) to strike Russian territory. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who chaired the meeting, confirmed that the U.S. position on this issue remains negative. He also noted that since February 2022, member states of the contact group have provided more than $106 billion in aid to Ukraine.
During the meeting, the Pentagon announced a new $250 million round of military aid. Through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, it will transfer items from U.S. military stockpiles, including RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles and additional air defense equipment, portable Stinger surface-to-air missiles, ammunition for HIMARS rocket launchers, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, Javelin and TOW anti-tank missiles, over 30 million rounds of small arms ammunition, and spare parts for Bradley and Stryker vehicles.
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