---
title: "ISW: Russian forces failed to achieve confirmed gains on most frontline sectors, Ukrainian forces repelled attacks"
description: "According to ISW, Russian forces failed to achieve confirmed territorial gains on most frontline sectors over the past day, while Ukrainian forces repelled attacks and launched counterattacks."
date: 2026-09-12T05:40:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/isw-russian-forces-fail-to-gain-ground-ukrainian-forces-repel-attacks
tags: [ukraine-russia-war, isw, front-line, kharkiv-region, zaporoizh-region, military-report]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# ISW: Russian forces failed to achieve confirmed gains on most frontline sectors, Ukrainian forces repelled attacks

![ISW: российские войска не добились подтвержденных успехов на большинстве участков фронта, ВСУ отбили атаки](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/12/isw-rf-ne-dobilas-uspeha-na-fronte-vs-otbili-ataki/isw-rf-ne-dobilas-uspeha-na-fronte-vs-otbili-ataki-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Russian attacks in northern Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts, as well as on the Kupiansk direction, yielded no confirmed results
- Ukrainian forces launched a counterattack near Zapadne north of Kupiansk and struck targets in Luhansk Oblast
- Ukrainian military officials refuted Russian claims of capturing Dovzhanka, Vasylivka, and Blahodatne, calling the area a disputed “gray zone”
- ISW notes that Russian sources exaggerate advances toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk
- The uncontrolled Konstantynivka and attempts to encircle Orikhiv remain key nodes on the frontline

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as published in its report and reported by RBC-Ukraine, over the past few days Russian occupiers have attempted to break through defenses on various frontline sectors, but the Ukrainian defense forces responded in a timely manner. In northern Sumy Oblast, the enemy conducted only limited offensive operations and failed to advance. Similarly, Russian attacks in northern Kharkiv Oblast and northeast of Hrodeka (Velykyi Burluk area) also proved unsuccessful.

### Kupiansk direction and Ukrainian counterattacks

On the Kupiansk direction, the Russians also carried out limited offensive actions but achieved no success. Ukrainian forces, in turn, launched a counterattack near Zaporizhzhia (Zapadne) north of Kupiansk. In addition, the AFU continued to strike mid-range targets at Russian military facilities in the occupied part of Luhansk Oblast, undermining the enemy's rear infrastructure.

### Contradictory data

There are significant discrepancies in assessments of the situation in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast. The Russian side claimed the encirclement of Ukrainian units and the capture of the settlements of Dovzhanka, Vasylivka, and Blahodatne. Ukrainian military officials refute these claims: on September 11, the spokesperson for the brigade defending the area stated that the territory remains a disputed “gray zone” and is not fully controlled by either side. ISW analysts additionally note that Russian sources exaggerate the scale of advances toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, and that heightened activity in northern Kharkiv Oblast may create an inflated impression of occupier successes ahead of the Russian State Duma elections.

### Logistics hubs as a problem for the occupiers

Konstantynivka remains a separate challenge for Russian forces: full control over the city has still not been established, which hampers the creation of stable supply lines and prevents further advance to the north of it. On other frontline sectors — in the Dobropillia area, on the Orikhiv and Huliaipole directions, as well as in the western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast — Russian offensive operations also proceeded without confirmed territorial gains.

### Zaporizhzhia direction and the overall picture

On the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russian forces are attempting to create conditions for the encirclement of Orikhiv and to cut off the Ukrainian logistics routes supplying this city. Overall, according to the ISW review, over the past day the enemy recorded no stable territorial gains on most sectors, while the Ukrainian side not only held its defenses but also intensified counterattacks and strikes on the rear. It was previously reported that Russian army losses in the war have exceeded several previous records, further indicating the high cost of offensive operations for the occupiers.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Ukrainian forces inflicted losses on the Russian army on various frontline directions, - ISW](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zsu-zavdali-porazok-armiyi-rf-riznih-napryamkah-1789191438.html) - Основной источник: отчет ISW о неудачных наступательных операциях РФ и контратаках ВСУ на Купянском и других направлениях.
- [Where exactly did Ukrainian military advance over the past days — Institute for the Study of War report](https://from-ua.org/news/703425-gde-imenno-prodvinulis-ukrainskie-voennye-za-poslednie-dni-otcet-instituta-izuceniia-voiny.html) - Подтверждено по источнику from-ua.org
- [Russian army claims “capture” of Ukrainian cities: what is actually happening on the frontline — ISW](https://tsn.ua/ru/ato/armiya-rf-zayavlyaet-o-zahvate-ukrainskih-gorodov-chto-na-samom-dele-proishodit-na-fronte-isw-3162953.html) - Подтверждает наличие заявлений РФ о захвате городов и их опровержение/контекст по «серой зоне» Харьковщины.
- [Ukrainian forces liberated 26 settlements: how the counteroffensive is changing the frontline - ISW](https://glavred.info/front/vsu-osvobodili-26-naselennyh-punktov-kak-kontrnastuplenie-menyaet-front-isw-10788026.html) - Дополнительный контекст по динамике фронта и контратакам украинских сил по данным ISW.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Did Russian forces achieve territorial gains over the past day?
**A:** According to ISW, no confirmed territorial gains by Russian forces have been recorded on most frontline sectors: attacks in northern Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts, as well as on the Kupiansk, Dobropillia, Orikhiv, and Huliaipole directions, proceeded without any advance.

### Q: What is happening with the settlements of Dovzhanka, Vasylivka, and Blahodatne?
**A:** The Russian side claimed their capture and the encirclement of Ukrainian units, however, on September 11 the spokesperson for the Ukrainian brigade refuted this information and described the territory as a disputed “gray zone.”

### Q: Where did Ukrainian forces launch counterattacks?
**A:** Ukrainian forces launched a counterattack near Zapadne north of Kupiansk and continued to strike mid-range targets at Russian military facilities in the occupied part of Luhansk Oblast.