The Ukrainian Defense Forces have demonstrated tactical successes in the eastern sector, advancing eastward from Oleksandrivka in the Donetsk region. This is reported in the latest analytical report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) as of October 2026. Military experts note that Ukrainian units are not only deterring assault attempts by Russian troops but are also conducting effective counterattacks on several key front-line sectors, disrupting the enemy's plans.
Situation in the Kharkiv and Kupiansk Directions
In the northeastern Kharkiv region, the Russian military attempted an infiltration east of Vovchansk, but met fierce resistance. The Ukrainian Defense Forces promptly delivered an effective fire strike on Russian positions southeast of Khrypuny. Meanwhile, active clashes were recorded near Kupiansk, Kovsharivka, and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi at the beginning of October, though no confirmed advancement of occupation forces was registered thanks to timely counterattacks by the Ukrainian army in northern Kupiansk.
Contradictory Data
Significant discrepancies remain in the information space regarding control over several settlements at the junction of the fronts. Thus, according to sources linked to Russia's Western Group of Forces, the Russian side claims to have established control over Novoplatonivka, Hrekivka, and Druzheliubivka. At the same time, ISW analysts and official Ukrainian data confirm that these settlements remain firmly under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, despite loud statements from the Kremlin.
Lyman Direction and Operation Vivaldi
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian defenders are continuing offensive and counteroffensive actions toward the eastern bank of the Zherebets River. Russian troops are trying to restrain the Ukrainian advance as part of the so-called "Vivaldi" operation. According to Kremlin-linked military bloggers, the AFU's advantage in personnel and drones critically hinders the Russian army from entrenching itself near Lyman, which fully confirms ISW analysts' conclusions about the high efficiency of Ukrainian counterattacks.
Conclusions and Strategic Consequences
Beyond the east, a tense situation persists in the Zaporizhzhia and Huliaipole directions, where the occupiers unsuccessfully attempted to bypass Orikhiv. Defensive operations and targeted counterattacks by the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to exhaust the offensive potential of the Russian army, demonstrating the flexibility of Ukraine's military strategy and preventing the enemy from realizing operational designs for the autumn 2026 campaign.
