Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has been studying the hostilities in Ukraine. The latest reports document the aggressor state’s army offensive between Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

Russia’s primary efforts are still aimed at capturing the rest of Luhansk region and advancing to the eastern part of Kharkiv and northern part of Donetsk regions.

Most of the combat operations in this sector continue near Kyslivka (20km southeast of Kupyansk), Petropavlivka (7km east of Kupyansk), Synkivka (9km northeast of Kupyansk), and Dvorichna (17km northeast of Kupyansk).

Map of combat operations from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), October 01, 2023 / Map: storymaps.arcgis.com

The fighting occurred in the Serebryanske forest area (11km south of Kreminna) but that the intensity of fighting in the Luhansk direction has decreased over the past week.

Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Captain Ilya Yevlash reported on October 1, however, that no combat engagements occurred in the Kupyansk-Lyman direction.

Footage published on October 1 purportedly shows elements of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade (2nd Luhansk Army Corps) operating near Bilohorivka (10km south of Kreminna).

The newly created Russian 25th Combined Arms Army (CAA) is reportedly fully staffed with over 17,000 personnel. Yevlash reported on October 1 that the 25th CAA has deployed south and west of Kreminna in order to replace the elements of the significantly degraded 41st Combined Arms Army (Central Military District) and 76th Airborne (VDV) Division.

GWARA’S CHOICE

Constant missile attacks and empty streets: how Kupyansk lives on the front line. This city in Kharkiv Oblast is 10-15 km/ 6–9 miles from the front line and 40 km/ 25 miles from the border with Russia. The city was severely damaged at the beginning of the full-scale invasion and during the battle for its liberation in September 2022. Today, it is constantly under fire from Russian aviation, MLRS and S-300 systems.

Russian army renewed their offensive on the Lyman-Kupiansk axis. The Defence forces are repelling the adversary’s attacks and hitting Russians’ ammunition depots and fuel storages. A spokesman for Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces, Ilya Yevlash, reported on it during a national telemarathon on September 30.