Russia’s primary effort is to capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast.

On September 14, Russian forces continued their offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna front and have made recent advancements. Video footage, geolocated to September 13, reveals that Russian forces had pushed further west of Lyman Pershyi, 12 kilometers northeast of Kupyansk, as of September 12.

Map of the Kupyansk district / Map: Institute for the Study of War and AEI’s Critical Threats Project

Russian sources assert that on September 13, their forces achieved unspecified progress between Petropavlivka, located 7 kilometers east of Kupyansk, and Synkivka, situated 9 kilometers northeast of Kupyansk. Moreover, they continued their assault operations in the vicinity of Synkyvka, Novoyehorivka (located 16 kilometers southwest of Svatove), and the Serebryanske forest area, situated 11 kilometers south of Kreminna, on September 14.

Map of hostilities in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions / Map: ISW

Novoyehorivka (located 16 kilometers southwest of Svatove), and the Serebryanske forest area 11 kilometers south of Kreminna, on September 14.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces persist in their offensive operations northeast of Berestove, located 20 kilometers northwest of Svatove, and in the proximity of Bilohorivka, which is situated 10 kilometers south of Kreminna.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar noted that the intensity of the fighting and the frequency of recent combat engagements in the Kupyansk and Lyman directions have decreased, possibly due to Russian forces consolidating their strength in preparation for future operations.

May be relevant

Russian army destroyed a kindergarten in Kharkiv Oblast with guided bombs. The adversary shelled the Bohoduhiv, Chuhuiiv, Kupiansk, and Izium districts. 

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.