Russians Suffer Multiple Separate Battlefield Setbacks In One Month

In the space of the past month, Russian forces have suffered multiple battlefield defeats, in separate sectors - and the Ukrainian advances that led to them continue. 

The first, and best known, is the Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive in the Lyman sector which has now broken through across the Zherebets River into Luhansk. The second is around Druzhkivka, in the Dobropillia sector, where Russian attacks were not just thwarted but further undermined by Ukrainian counterattacks. The third is at Huliapole, in the country's south, Ukrainian forces have also initiated counterattacks in Kharkiv oblast, near Sumy and in the Kherson area. Ukrainian successes at Kupiansk have also continued. The individual gains are noteworthy, but it is the combined effect across multiple sectors that adds up to an evolving picture of strategic Ukrainian momentum. JL

Howard Altman reports in The War Zone and Anatolii Kuranda reports:

Near Lyman, Ukraine’s 3rd Corps Operation Vivaldi, continues retaking ground and disrupting Russia’s northern push toward the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk “fortress belt.” Near Dobropillia, Russia’s southern approach toward the same strategic objective has also (suffered) Ukrainian counterattacks and heavy resistance. Farther south, Ukrainian forces have also made substantial gains across the Oleksandrivka–Huliaipole sectors, forcing Russia to divert manpower and resources. At Kupiansk, in Kharkiv oblast, in Kherson and Sumy, the Russians have also been stymied. No premature talk of a turning point. But Russia’s plans have been disrupted on multiple important axes

Near Lyman, Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps launched Operation Vivaldi, retaking ground and disrupting Russia’s northern push toward the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk “fortress belt.” ISW says the operation thwarted Russia’s plan for a northern pincer through Lyman and Sviatohirsk.

Near Dobropillia, Russia’s southern approach toward the same strategic objective has also faced Ukrainian counterattacks and heavy resistance. Together, these axes were intended to threaten the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk area from north and south rather than storm it head-on.

Farther south, Ukrainian forces have also made substantial gains across the Oleksandrivka–Huliaipole sectors this year, forcing Russia to divert manpower and resources.

No premature talk of a turning point. But Russia’s plans have been disrupted on multiple important axes — and Ukraine is counterattacking rather than simply absorbing the pressure.  

On the battlefield, in addition to the gains Ukraine has made near Lyman, it has also largely been able to hold off Russian advances across the front lines. Here are some key takeaways from the latest Institute for the Study of War assessment of frontline operations:

• Sumy: Russian forces recently conducted an infiltration mission east of Sumy City, and they continue to conduct glide bomb strikes against frontline settlements in northern Sumy Oblast to set conditions for future offensives.

• Kharkiv: Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast and in the Borova, Kupyansk and Velykyi Burluk directions on Sept. 21 and 22 but did not advance.

• Donetsk: Ukrainian forces reportedly continue counterattacks in the Lyman direction, including southeast of Lyman, as Russian forces are attempting to use redeployments to stabilize the area. Russian forces continued offensive operations east and southeast of Slovyansk near Rai-Oleksandrivka and toward Mykolaivka and Fedorivka Druha on Sept. 21 and 22 but did not advance. During this period, they also tried to advance in the Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka directions but made no gains, as Ukrainian forces counterattacked in both areas.

• Zaporizhia: Ukrainian forces recently advanced or maintained positions in western Zaporizhia Oblast.

• Kherson: Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces reported ground activity in the Kherson direction on September 22. 

• In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly this afternoon, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Russia to end its war and said it was paying a heavy price — and exacting a terrible toll — for little territorial gain.

“This ridiculous and never-ending war with Ukraine must be ended,” the Ukrainian leader urged. “I do not know a single world leader who would say otherwise. I do not know anyone who is openly for this war, except one man.”

He was referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Ladies and gentlemen, for almost five years now, Russian generals have been trying to carry out Putin’s crazy order to seize our eastern land, the Donetsk region,” Zelensky continued. “And just this year, from January through August, the Russian army lost 248,964 people on the battlefield in Ukraine in eight months. Twenty-one countries in the world have smaller populations… than the number of Russian troops lost in just eight months.” 

“It’s madness, but they still keep going there to die because that is what Putin wants,” Zelensky suggested. “After losing so many people, Russia managed to capture just over 1,000 square kilometers of our land this year, and we have already liberated a significant part of it. Russia is a country that already has 17 million square kilometers of its own land without any Ukrainian territory, by the way. So to add another 1,000 square kilometers, Putin is paying with 248 people for every kilometer. Does anyone still think that he is reasonable? And moderate?”

“Russia’s leader, Patient Zero, the man from whom this war began and spread into the world, becoming the largest war in Europe since World War II, will inevitably leave this war,” Zelensky proffered. “But the longer Putin is able to wage war, the more evil he will leave behind in this world. Today, nothing in war works the same way it did, by the way, in 2022, except the courage of people.”