#ISW

Ukrainian Forces Improve Positions on the Kupiansk and Drobuvka Axes and Confirm 'Vivaldi' Counteroffensive Near Lyman for the First Time — ISW

Politics 09/16/2026, 19:01

According to ISW, Ukrainian forces improved their positions on the Kupiansk, Drobuvka, and Huliaipole axes, disrupting Russian assaults and officially confirming the 'Vivaldi' counteroffensive near Lyman for the first time.

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“Score Leveled”: ISW on How the AFU Seized the Initiative on the Front in 2026

Politics 09/13/2026, 09:23

According to the ISW report, since March 2026 the AFU have reduced Russia's net territorial gains to virtually zero and conducted counteroffensives on the Kupyansk, Oleksandrivka, and Lyman axes.

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

Politics 09/12/2026, 08:50

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.

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ISW Debunks Russia's Claims of a 'Massive Encirclement' of Ukrainian Forces Near Kharkiv: What Is Actually Happening on the Front

Politics 09/11/2026, 09:54

Russian officials and military bloggers claimed an encirclement of Ukrainian units northeast of Kharkiv, but ISW analysts found no evidence for this version and pointed to systemic errors in Moscow's reports.

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Milbloggers admit Russian army retreat near Lyman: ISW notes conflict with official narrative

Politics 09/10/2026, 11:41

According to ISW, Russian milbloggers admit the Russian army's retreat on the Lyman axis and criticize the command for false reports. The Ukrainian forces, they say, control Sviatohorsk.

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ISW: In his call with Trump, Putin likely presented a distorted picture of the front

Politics 09/09/2026, 15:46

ISW believes that in their September 8 phone call, Putin presented Trump with a distorted picture of the front in order to push the U.S. toward pressuring Ukraine. The Kremlin describes the conversation as a detailed exchange of assessments.

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Kremlin claims 'capture' of Sviatohorsk: ISW names the actual position of Russian troops

Politics 09/08/2026, 10:58

The Kremlin again claimed the capture of Sviatohorsk, but according to ISW, Russian units are more than 13 km from the city, and the 'fresh' footage turned out to be edited.

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Palisa reveals new Kremlin deadline for Donbas: Russia's politburo sets end of 2026, military asks for extension to March 2027

Politics 09/08/2026, 01:39

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Palisa, at a meeting with Witkoff and Kushner, revealed that Russia's politburo set a deadline for the full occupation of Donetsk Oblast by the end of 2026, while Russian military officials are asking for an extension to March 31, 2027.

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ISW: Kremlin Not Ready for Compromises on Ukraine and Relies on a Distorted Assessment of the Front

Politics 09/07/2026, 09:38

According to ISW, after the talks with the American delegation, the Kremlin is not ready for substantial compromises on Ukraine and relies on an exaggerated assessment of the army's successes, despite the unrealistic deadline for capturing the Donbas by the end of 2026.

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

Politics 09/06/2026, 09:58

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.

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ISW: Ukrainian Defense Forces Advance in Three Regions and Disrupt Russian Offensive

Politics 09/05/2026, 08:38

ISW recorded advances by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Ukrainian forces disrupted several Russian offensive operations, and Russian claims of capturing Odradne and Nikonivka were not confirmed.

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ISW Debunks Putin's 'Victory' Claims: Russia's Actual Gains Are a Fraction of What Was Reported

Politics 09/03/2026, 12:27

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has debunked yet another set of Vladimir Putin's "victory" claims about the capture of territory in Donbas: the actual figures of Russian advances are a fraction of what was reported.

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ISW: Ukrainian counterattacks disrupted Russian advances on several front sectors

Politics 09/02/2026, 10:59

According to ISW, over the past 24 hours Russian forces attempted to advance on several front sectors, but counterattacks by the Ukrainian Defense Forces disrupted their progress. No confirmed Russian successes have been recorded.

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Ukrainian troops launch sudden infantry offensive in the Kupiansk direction: clear forest southwest of Zapytne

Politics 08/31/2026, 13:17

According to ISW and the 2nd Corps of the National Guard, on August 30 Ukrainian infantry launched a sudden offensive in the Kupiansk direction and cleared about two square kilometers of forest southwest of Zapytne.

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ISW: Russia Building Up Personnel and Equipment on the Lyman Axis Ahead of an Intensified Offensive

Politics 08/30/2026, 10:31

ISW records the buildup of Russian forces and strikes on crossings over the Oskil and Seversky Donets rivers as preparations for an offensive on the Lyman axis. Kyiv, meanwhile, states that the pace of Russia's advance is slowing.

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ISW: Ukrainian counterattacks thwarted Russia's offensive on key front directions on August 26–27

Politics 08/28/2026, 10:57

ISW recorded that on August 26–27, Ukrainian counterattacks thwarted Russia's offensive on the Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Slaviansk, and Pokrovsk directions. Ukrainian forces advanced in the Borova area and captured strongpoints.

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ISW: Ukrainian Forces Advance in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Regions

Politics 08/27/2026, 10:28

According to an ISW report, on August 26–27, 2026, Ukrainian forces advanced on the Kupiansk and Dobropillia directions and in western Zaporizhzhia region, as confirmed by geolocated footage. Russian claims of capturing several areas are not supported by verification.

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Ukrainian forces advance in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts: ISW records counterattacks and strikes on Russian rear areas

Politics 08/26/2026, 12:06

According to ISW, over two days the Ukrainian forces advanced in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, counterattacked on the Redkodub–Nove sector, and struck Russian rear targets. Kyiv refuted the capture of Nove Konstantynivka.

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