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Ukraine Gains Ground in Donetsk Region as Russian Infiltration Attempts Face Counterattacks, ISW Says
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Ukrainian forces have advanced east of Oleksandrivka in the Donetsk region as counterattacks continue across several sectors of the frontline, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on October 7.
In its latest assessment, ISW reported that Ukrainian troops continued counteroffensive operations in several areas, while Russian forces carried out attacks and infiltration attempts without achieving confirmed territorial gains in most sectors.
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In the northern Sumy region, Russian troops conducted limited offensive operations on October 7 but made no confirmed advances as Ukrainian forces launched successful counterattacks.
Further east, Russian forces reportedly infiltrated Ukrainian positions east of Vovchansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Ukrainian troops subsequently struck Russian forces southeast of Khrypuny following a suspected Russian infiltration.
Russian troops also launched attacks near Kupiansk, Kivsharivka, and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi on October 6 and 7, although ISW recorded no confirmed Russian advances. Ukrainian forces continued counterattacks in northern Kupiansk.
Meanwhile, a source affiliated with Russia’s Western Grouping of Forces reported that Ukrainian troops retained control of Novoplatonivka, Hrekivka, and Druzheliubivka, contradicting Russian claims that Moscow’s forces had captured the settlements.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian forces continued counterattacks toward the eastern bank of the Zherebets River, while Russian troops attempted to contain Ukrainian advances as part of Operation Vivaldi, ISW reported.
A Kremlin-affiliated Russian military blogger acknowledged that Ukrainian troops were maintaining counteroffensive operations along the Zherebets River. According to the blogger, Ukraine’s advantage in personnel and drones was preventing Russian forces from consolidating their positions near Lyman.
Elsewhere in the Donetsk region, Russian troops infiltrated positions east of Kramatorsk. Ukrainian forces subsequently struck Russian positions in western Malynivka, according to ISW.
In the Dobropillia sector, Russian forces continued offensive operations on October 6 and 7 but achieved no confirmed territorial gains. Ukrainian troops, meanwhile, conducted counterattacks northeast of the city.
Russian attacks also continued in the Huliaipole sector during the same period, although no advances were recorded.
In western Zaporizhzhia, Russian forces carried out limited offensive operations, potentially as part of an effort to bypass Orikhiv from both the west and east. However, ISW reported no confirmed Russian territorial gains in the area.
The latest developments follow earlier Ukrainian clearing operations in the Kharkiv region. On October 5, ISW reported that Ukrainian troops had pushed Russian infiltration groups out of approximately 10 square kilometers of territory east of Vovchansk.
According to the institute, a Ukrainian brigade operating in northern Kharkiv released footage on October 3 showing the results of operations in a forested area northeast of Vovchanski Khutory, east of Vovchansk.
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-2232920be2c2768100ea7818ba05831c.jpg "A large plume of smoke rises near the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan following a reported attack on October 8, 2026. (Source: Exilenova+)")
