The Ukrainian Armed Forces Advanced On Two Key Fronts Simultaneously
- 16.09.2026, 11:33
Russian forces are losing ground near Kupyansk and Dobropillya.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces were able to consolidate their positions on the battlefield in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions and successfully thwarted a series of new offensive operations by Russian invaders. This is stated in a new report by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The report notes that on September 14 and 15, Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kupiansk and Borov directions but did not advance, as Ukrainian forces counterattacked. According to a source linked to the Russian Federation’s Western Military District, on September 15, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Russian salient positions to the north and southeast of Kupiansk.
According to the analysis, Russian troops are attempting to narrow the Ukrainian bridgehead southeast of Kupiansk due to the deterioration of their position near the city. Colonel Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated on September 15 that Russian troops are stepping up their operations along the left bank of the Oskol River near Kupyansk, particularly in the Kivshariv direction (southeast of Kupiansk), where the occupiers are attempting to narrow the Ukrainian bridgehead. Tregubov stated that Russian troops are largely unable to hold their positions on the right bank of the Oskol River closer to Kupiansk itself and are losing territory to Ukrainian forces. According to him, the enemy likely does not have sufficient capabilities to launch a large-scale offensive in the coming weeks, but the situation could change if the Russian military command allocates more personnel to these operations.
Analysts note that Russian troops have stepped up offensive operations in the Kupiansk sector but have recently been unable to advance, and the fall may further stabilize the front line.
Ukrainian forces have also recently advanced southwest of Dobropillya. According to geolocated video footage published on September 14, Ukrainian forces have recently advanced in the southwestern part of Belitsk (north of Pokrovsk) and in the western part of Belitsk. In addition, Ukrainian forces have advanced or held their positions east of Dobropillya.
At the same time, it is noted that Russian forces are intensifying offensive operations and deploying additional troops in the Dobropillya sector ahead of the onset of colder weather.
“A sergeant from a Ukrainian battalion operating in the Dobropillya sector stated on September 15 that Russian forces have been deploying new units over the past few weeks and stepping up their efforts to reach Dobropillya ahead of the seasonal change and the withering of vegetation. The sergeant stated that Russian forces are increasingly using various types of attack drones, improving their reconnaissance, and attempting to increase the depth of their strikes in this area… “Russian forces may attempt to use inclement weather as cover to move large numbers of personnel in mechanized convoys toward the Dobropillya sector, as they previously did in the Pokrovsk sector,” the report states.