According to a review by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), shared with RBC-Ukraine, over the past 24 hours Russian forces attempted to advance on several sections of the front, but systematically ran into counterattacks by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Analysts note that confirmed Russian advances on most axes have not been recorded, while Ukrainian troops, by contrast, achieved tactical successes and struck at the enemy's logistics.
Kupiansk and Kharkiv axes
In northern Kharkiv Oblast and around Bore Hryshkivka (Big Burluk), Russian units continued offensive operations but failed to advance due to Ukrainian counterattacks. On the Kupiansk axis, only limited assaults were recorded on September 1, with no confirmed advance, while the Defense Forces continued to counterattack. A similar picture was observed on the Borova axis: the Russian offensive yielded no results, and according to Russian sources, Ukrainian troops counterattacked west of Borova — north of Sheikivka, near Redkodub and Nove, as well as toward Katerynivka, southeast of Borova. Some Russian military bloggers acknowledged the advance of Ukrainian troops and their tactically significant successes in this sector.
Contradictory data
Here the versions of the two sides diverge. The day before, Russian sources released footage that, they claimed, showed Russian soldiers in Hryshkivka (Velika Shapkivka) southwest of Kupiansk and north of Kupiansk-Uzlovoyi, and on that basis declared an advance of their forces. However, ISW analysts consider that these video recordings may have been fabricated or created with the help of artificial intelligence, so the advance in this area is not confirmed. A similar discrepancy is observed on the Sumy axis: Russian military bloggers claimed entry into Ulanove and advances near Potapivka and Sadky (northwest of Sumy), but there is no independent confirmation of these claims yet.
Donetsk front: Slavyansk, Lyman, Pokrovsk
On August 31 and September 1, Russian forces continued offensive actions on the Slavyansk axis but had no confirmed advance; meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted counterattacks both north and south of Lyman, located northeast of Slavyansk. On the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka axes, the Russian army also carried out offensive operations, but no confirmed successes or advances were recorded. On the Oleksandrivka axis, only limited offensive operations were recorded on September 1, which the Ukrainian forces repelled, while on the Huliaipole axis, Russian forces achieved no confirmed advance on August 31 and September 1.
Zaporizhzhia axis and strikes on logistics
On the Huliaipole and adjacent sectors, Ukrainian forces continued to deliver medium-range strikes on Russian facilities and logistics routes in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In particular, Ukrainian drones attacked vehicles on the M-14 Rostov–Crimea highway, as well as on the N-30 Berdiansk–Tokmak–Vasyliivka highway north of Tokmak. In parallel, as previously reported, the Defense Forces successfully struck air defense elements, command posts, and warehouses on Russian territory and in Crimea.
Sumy axis and overall summary
Over the past 24 hours, the Russian army continued its offensive in northern Sumy Oblast but failed to break through. Thus, according to ISW's assessment, the overall picture of the day is characterized by the fact that Russian offensive operations on various front sectors were disrupted or halted in time thanks to Ukrainian counterattacks, while analysts recorded no confirmed territorial gains for Russia. It is separately noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing to establish a new 446th Drone Systems Brigade, which strengthens the direction of strikes on the enemy's rear areas and logistics.
