My update is for September 6 through September 9th. #ukrdailyupdate
The tide has turned.
If you would like to view the map, here is the link: google.com
The tide has turned.
If you would like to view the map, here is the link: google.com
Around Kharkiv city, Russia is working to maintain a buffer between the front line and the Russian border. I have tried to find an update on the status of Udy and Sosnivka, but I have not been able to find reliable information.
From what I gather, based upon reports from September 5-9 and from newer reports from September 10-11, I believe Russia may have had some control over Sosnivka from September 5th-9th and then lost this control sometime during the 10th. I believe Udy is a contested town.
Russia tried to seize control of Udy (1) and Push into Kostyanivka (2). Kostyanivka is a heavily fortified town, and all Russian attacks failed. I believe Udy remains contested.
Russia attacked Prudyanka (3) and in the general direction of Pytomnyk (4), but Ukrainian defenders repelled both assaults. During this time, there are rumors that Ukraine captured Dementiivka (A), but I cannot find confirmation.
Russia assaulted Ruski Tyshy on September 9th (5), and there are some indications that a Ukrainian counterattack could have established control over Velyki Prokhody (B), Borshcheva (C ), and Vesele (D). I cannot find confirmation on any of these three claims, so I did not update.
Southeast of Kharkiv, on September 6th, Ukraine launched a massive counteroffensive. First, Ukraine attacked Balakiya from Pryshub (6), using around 15 tanks to punch a hole through the Russian front lines around Verbivka.
Once penetrating the line, Ukraine pushed mechanized infantry through, captured Verbivka, and then attacked and cut off Balakliya from the north. Almost simultaneously, Ukraine attacked Balakliya from the south (E) (I forgot to place the number, so it is a letter).
They rapidly captured Nova Husarivka and Bayrak, both abandoned by Russians who retreated into Balakliya. Also, simultaneous to the initial assault, Ukraine attacked and captured Yakovenkove (7), Yolokhiv Yar (8), and Hrakove and Chkalovske (9).
To help illustrate the speed of this assault, in Volokhiv Yar the Ukrainian soldiers surprised one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles, destroyed them in quick succession, and two platoons of Russian soldiers immediately surrendered. Ukraine captured the town within minutes.
After capturing Volokhiv Yar, the Ukrainian recon forces pushed to Shevchenkove (10) and immediately started attacking the town. By morning, Ukrainian infantry had captured most of the town, and the recon forces had already pushed up to Starovirivka and Hrushivka (11).
Shortly after, Ukrainian recon forces pushed towards Prystin (12) and Kupyansk (13), where they would wait for the infantry to catch up.
In this image, the shade of the color represents the date, and the darkest blue represents September 9th.
In this image, the shade of the color represents the date, and the darkest blue represents September 9th.
Meanwhile, Russia tried to hold onto Balakliya, but when Ukraine captured Borshchivka on September 8th (tip of the 7 arrowhead) it forced Russia to withdraw from Balakliya to Savyntsi (F).
Within hours, Ukraine broke through these defenses (15) and then began moving south from Vesele toward Izyum (14). Ukraine also managed to push down the Oskil river (16).
Oh, and Ukraine pushed north from Pechenihy and either captured or contested Artemivka and Martove (17). It is possible Ukraine moved substantially further north than these two towns because there was a report that they *defended* an assault in Ploske (G).
At the end of September 9th, Ukraine controlled everything between Kupyansk and Izyum. Around 3190 sqkm.
In the Izyum area, Russia repeatedly assaulted Ukrainian positions during these four days, attacking Virnopillya (18), Dibrovne (19), and Dolyna (20). There is evidence that Ukraine attacked north toward Oskil (21), which would have assisted the forces surrounding Izyum.
Russia claims they stopped this attack near Bohorosychne, but I am not sure Russia even had men near Bohorodychne, so I find that unlikely. It is also possible that Ukraine made this advance on the other side of the river, through Studenok, moving up through the forest.
Near Slovyansk, Ukrainian forces crossed the Siverskyi Donets river and moved up toward Drobysheve (22) and Lyman (23). There were rumors that Ukraine had entered Lyman by September 9th, but Russians claim the fighting was only in the forest.
Ukraine built crossing points across the river using gravel. Russians lamented that Ukraine managed to cross the river without casualties, unlike the catastrophic Russian river crossing where they lost several hundreds of men to Ukrainian artillery and air power.
Near Siversk, Russians tried in vain to attack Hryhorivka (24). Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces began to march toward Lysychansk (25,26).
The southern advance (26) is vital because it threatens to establish a foothold in the hills by which Ukraine could attack the Lysychansk Oil refinery (H).
Russia tried to stop the Ukrainian advance with repeated tank attacks, but the Ukrainians fought off the tanks and continued to climb up the hill. This is important for what happened on September 10th, but that is beyond the scope of this update.
Russia is attacking Bakhmut with everything it has, and this area has a lot of heavy fighting with high casualties for both sides.
Russia is attacking west from the Knauf Gips factory (27). More accurately, you would say anything west of the factory is Bakhmutske, but Russia and Ukraine describe the area as βSoledar.β
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