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Ukraine Strikes Back on Three Fronts as Russian Offensive Stalls, ISW Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian forces conducted counterattacks across three sectors of the frontline, including the Kupiansk, Lyman, and Orikhiv directions, while Russian troops failed to make confirmed advances in those areas despite continued offensive operations.
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According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its November 8 assessment, Ukrainian forces challenged Russian positions in eastern and southern Ukraine, although analysts also identified recent Russian advances or infiltrations near Dobropillia in the Donetsk region.
Russian troops continued offensive operations in the Kupiansk direction on November 7 and 8, including attacks northeast of Borova, but made no confirmed territorial gains. Ukrainian forces carried out counterattacks in the same sector.
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Near Lyman, Russian units attempted to advance around the city and along the Oskil River to its northeast. ISW reported no confirmed Russian progress, while Ukrainian troops counterattacked near Balka Zhuravka, northeast of Lyman.
Analysts also found no evidence supporting Russian claims that Moscow’s forces had captured central Dibrova, southeast of Lyman. Ukrainian drone operations reportedly continued to restrict Russian troop movements in the area.
In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces conducted limited offensive operations in the Orikhiv direction on November 7 and 8 without securing confirmed advances. Ukrainian troops counterattacked southeast of Orikhiv.
Further east, in the Huliaipole direction, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian position northeast of Ternuvate. ISW assessed that Russian troops had likely infiltrated the area before the strike.
Separately, analysts geolocated footage published on November 2 showing Ukrainian forces attacking a Russian position in southern Varvarivka, northeast of Kharkiv. The footage indicated a recent Russian infiltration into the settlement.
ISW also disputed a November 6 claim by a Russian military blogger that Russian forces had captured Sobolivka, west of Kupiansk. Russia’s Defense Ministry had previously claimed control of the settlement in July 2025.
Despite the lack of confirmed Russian advances in several sectors, the situation near Dobropillia remained contested.
ISW assessed that Russian forces had recently advanced or infiltrated positions within Dobropillia and areas to its south and southwest. The movement may have followed Russian advances through Krasnopodillia and a smaller settlement also named Dobropillia, located south of the city.
Earlier, Russia failed to claim the capture of a single Ukrainian settlement during the first eight days of November, marking a break from its previous pattern of territorial claims as Ukrainian forces continued counterattacks and regained ground.
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