The Lyman sector has been transferred to the new “Center” group, — Tregubov
Effective September 18, the Lyman sector will be removed from the Joint Forces Operation’s area of responsibility and will come under the command of the newly formed “Center” military group.
This change applies specifically to the Lyman sector, while the Kupiansk and South Slobozhansky sectors remain under the jurisdiction of the Joint Forces Group.
“The Lyman sector is literally being taken away from us starting today; it is now under the command of the newly formed ‘Center’ military group,” said Tregubov.
Viktor Tregubov noted that the Third Army Corps was previously part of the Joint Forces Group, but now it reports to the newly formed “Center” military group.
According to the spokesperson, the redistribution of areas of responsibility applies only to the Lyman sector. At the same time, the Kupiansk and Southern Slobozhanshchyna sectors remain among the main areas under the responsibility of the Joint Forces Operation.
Speaking about the situation in the Lyman sector, Tregubov stated that Russian troops are currently “not in the best shape.”
“In the Lyman sector as well—as you know—the Russians are not in the best shape right now, and there is no cause for optimism among them, not even among their own propagandists,” noted the spokesperson for the Joint Forces Operation.
At the same time, Tregubov reported that the intensity of combat operations has recently decreased in the Kupiansk and South Slobozhanshchyna sectors. According to him, Russian units show signs of running out of resources in these areas.
The change in command took place amid active combat operations in the Lyman area. The Third Army Corps continues Operation “Vivaldi,” during which Ukrainian forces are striking Russian positions, equipment, depots, and other military targets.
According to Ukrinform, on September 15, Andriy Biletsky reported on an offensive by Ukrainian forces in the north of Donetsk Oblast. He said that, as of that time, the Defense Forces had cleared 75 square kilometers of territory and liberated 10 square kilometers.
As of September 18, the Lyman sector officially falls under the command of the new “Center” military group.
This was announced on television by Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Operation.
On September 17 and during the night of September 18, 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a number of key military targets belonging to the Russian occupation forces. Among the targets were an “Orion” UAV ground control station, a storage and launch site for attack drones, an ammunition depot, and a logistics depot belonging to the enemy.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna and Northern Slobozhanshchyna sectors, Russian forces are attempting to exploit weaknesses in Ukrainian defenses using small and very small infantry groups.
