---
title: "ISW: Russian forces made no confirmed advances on key front sections over September 4–5"
description: "According to ISW, over September 4–5 Russian forces made no confirmed advances on most axes — from the Sumy region to Donbas — while the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled attacks and struck enemy logistics and communications."
date: 2026-09-06T06:52:02.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/isw-russian-forces-fail-to-advance-on-front-4-5-september
tags: [ukraine-war, isw, frontline, russian-offensive, sumy, kharkiv, donbas, vsu]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# ISW: Russian forces made no confirmed advances on key front sections over September 4–5

![Russian soldier inside a destroyed building on the front line where ISW reports no confirmed advance on 4–5 September](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/06/isw-rf-ne-dobilsya-prodvizheniya-na-fronte-4-5-sentyabrya/isw-rf-ne-dobilsya-prodvizheniya-na-fronte-4-5-sentyabrya-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Over September 4–5, Russian forces achieved no confirmed advance on most axes, according to ISW's assessment.
- The Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled attacks on the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kupiansk, and Sloviansk directions and conducted counterattacks near Hoptivka and Kudiivka.
- Ukrainian forces struck logistics, communications (MESH), radar, and EW assets on occupied territories with medium-range weapons.
- Russian milbloggers' claims of an "encirclement" between Volchansk and Velyke Burluk are not supported by evidence.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as cited by RBC-Ukraine, over the past 24 hours (September 4–5) Russian occupation forces continued offensive operations on several sections of the contact line, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully repelled the attacks and prevented the enemy from holding new positions. According to the analytical center's report, on most axes — from the Sumy and Kharkiv regions to Donbas and the Huliaipole direction — no confirmed territorial gains by Russian troops were recorded. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military units struck enemy military facilities, logistics, and communications assets on occupied territories with medium-range weapons.

### Sumy and Kharkiv directions: defense and counterattacks

In northern Sumy region on September 4–5, Russian forces carried out limited offensive actions but, according to ISW's assessment, achieved no confirmed advance. At the same time, as a source linked to the Russian Northern Group of Forces notes, Ukrainian defenders are advancing along the railway between Taratutyn and Riasne, southeast of Sumy. In northern Kharkiv region and in the area of Velyke Burluk, the occupiers also attempted attacks but were unsuccessful. According to one Russian source, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are counterattacking and recapturing lost positions near Hoptivka and Kudiivka.

### Kupiansk and Sloviansk directions: offensive without results

On the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces continued offensive actions on September 4–5 but achieved no confirmed territorial gains. A similar picture was observed on the Sloviansk direction: the occupiers conducted offensive operations but failed to achieve a confirmed advance. Thus, on both sections the front line remained essentially unchanged in the enemy's favor.

### Donbas and the Huliaipole direction: limited operations

In Donbas, Russian forces carried out limited offensive operations but were unable to advance over September 4–5. During this time, Ukrainian military units continued to strike Russian military facilities on occupied Donbas territory with medium-range weapons. On the Huliaipole direction, Russian forces also continued offensive actions on September 4–5 but achieved no confirmed advance, while Ukrainian forces struck Russian logistics on occupied Zaporizhzhia region territory with medium-range weapons.

### Contradictory data

In open sources, the parties' accounts diverge. On the one hand, Russian milbloggers claim, without documentary evidence, that Ukrainian forces are allegedly encircled between the Volchansk and Velykoburloksk directions. On the other hand, ISW records the absence of confirmed territorial gains by Russian troops on these sections and, conversely, points to the advance of Ukrainian defenders along the railway between Taratutyn and Riasne, southeast of Sumy, as well as to Ukrainian counterattacks near Hoptivka and Kudiivka. Thus, the claims of an "encirclement" are not supported by analytical data, and some accounts of front dynamics are based on unverified reports from Russian Telegram channels.

### Strikes on the rear: communications, radar, and EW

In addition to actions on the front line, Ukrainian military units continued to strike targets in the enemy's rear. It was previously reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck a Russian MESH-network repeater, a radar station, and electronic warfare assets. According to analysts, these strikes are aimed at degrading the command-and-staff communications and logistics of Russian groupings. The combined ISW data for September 4–5 indicates that Russian offensive operations on most axes did not lead to sustained changes in the front line, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces retain the capability for counterattacks and deep strikes.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Russian army suffers new defeats on several front directions, - ISW](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/armiya-rf-zaznala-novih-porazok-odrazu-kilkoh-1788677271.html) - Основной источник: отчет ISW о наступательных действиях РФ 4–5 сентября без подтвержденного продвижения и об ударах ВСУ.
- [Day 1044 of the war. ISW: Russians "spend" more than 100 personnel to capture 1 km of Ukrainian territory, and losses ...](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20250102-1044-%D0%B9-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B) - Контекстный источник о динамике и потерях; не использован для конкретных дат 4–5 сентября.
- [New mobilization will not help Russia on the front: ISW names the main obstacle](https://www.unian.net/war/mobilizaciya-v-rossii-ne-pomozhet-ey-na-fronte-v-isw-nazvali-glavnuyu-problemu-13395126.html) - Контекст о проблемах российской группировки; не противоречит основному тексту.
- [Ukrainian Armed Forces halt Russian offensive on several front sections – ISW](https://glavred.info/front/vsu-ostanovili-nastuplenie-rf-srazu-na-neskolkih-uchastkah-fronta-isw-10789064.html) - Подтверждает тезис об отбитии наступления на нескольких участках фронта по данным ISW.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Did Russian forces achieve any advance on September 4–5?
**A:** According to ISW, on most axes — the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kupiansk, and Sloviansk directions, Donbas, and the Huliaipole direction — no confirmed advance was recorded.

### Q: What is reported about the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces?
**A:** According to a source, Ukrainian defenders are advancing along the railway between Taratutyn and Riasne, southeast of Sumy, and are also counterattacking near Hoptivka and Kudiivka.

### Q: Is the claim of an encirclement between Volchansk and Velyke Burluk accurate?
**A:** This claim by Russian milbloggers is not supported by evidence; ISW records the absence of confirmed Russian gains on these sections.

### Q: What targets did the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike?
**A:** Ukrainian forces struck military logistics, as well as a MESH-network repeater, a radar station, and EW assets on occupied territories, with medium-range weapons.