The Ukrainian Armed Forces are launching a counterattack near Lyman, but Russian forces are attempting to advance near Dobropillya
Throughout September 16, active combat operations continued on the front lines across several sectors. The most significant developments took place in the Lyman area of Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces are continuing their counteroffensive and pushing back Russian units.
The Lyman area remains one of the key sectors of the front. Ukrainian troops are continuing their counterattacks to the north and southeast of the city.
Military analyst Kostyantyn Mashovets reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces pushed back units of Russia’s 25th Combined Arms Army from the southeastern outskirts of Lyman and Dibrova toward the Lyman–Zakytne road.
According to him, Ukrainian forces also eliminated a Russian tactical bridgehead on the Nitrus River and drove the occupiers out of Serednye and the surrounding areas.
At the same time, the situation north of Lyman remains challenging. The exact extent of the Ukrainian troops’ advance is currently difficult to determine due to limited data from open sources.
Earlier, the ISW noted that the Ukrainian operation in this direction has already significantly complicated Russian plans to encircle the Ukrainian fortified belt in the Donetsk region.
Another important area remains the Dobropillia region.
According to the ISW, Russian forces recently advanced in the southwestern part of Bilytske, located southeast of Dobropillia.
At the same time, Ukrainian forces struck Russian positions following attempts by the occupiers to infiltrate the area around the settlement.
According to the data cited, the Russian command continues to use this direction to attempt to bypass the Ukrainian fortified belt from the southwest.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian troops also continued offensive operations, but no confirmed significant advances were recorded.
Ukrainian forces carried out counterattacks and struck Russian logistics.
Due to the expansion of the Ukrainian “strike zone,” the occupiers, according to the data provided, are increasingly forced to use light vehicles and move in small groups.
Russian forces also continue to employ infiltration tactics using small groups.
Separately, there are reports of Russian forces advancing southeast of Novoandriivka, west of Orikhiv.
This is reported by the ISW.
Over the past day, on September 16, the Ukrainian military eliminated 1,960 Russian occupiers. This is the highest daily casualty figure for the Russian Armed Forces in 2026, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Pokrovsk sector remains the hottest: 38 attacks were repelled.
In Kyiv’s Svyatoshynsky District, a Russian drone strike was recorded on September 15. Black smoke is rising from the site.
In the Solomyanskyi district of the capital, a strike was recorded on the grounds of a garage cooperative.
