The Ukrainian Armed Forces have launched an offensive operation in the Kupiansk sector, according to the ISW
On August 2 and 3, Russian troops continued their offensive operations in the Kupiansk sector; however, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are not only repelling the attacks but also conducting their own offensive operation.
At the same time, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) does not confirm Russian claims of advances in Kupiansk.
Russian military bloggers claimed that the occupying forces had allegedly advanced:
- in the central part of Kupiansk;
- south of Radkivka;
- in the northern part of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi;
- west of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi.
They also claimed that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting counterattacks from the outskirts of Kupiansk, and that fighting is ongoing for the bridge across the Oskil River in Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi.
At the same time, U.S. analysts note that there is currently no confirmed evidence of Russian troop advances in this sector of the front.
Vladimir Degtyarev, a spokesperson for the 2nd Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard “Charter,” reported that Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region are simultaneously conducting two operations:
- a defensive operation—north and east of Kharkiv;
- an offensive operation—in the Kupiansk direction.
According to him, the main task of Ukrainian forces is to push Russian troops back from the state border and maintain full fire control over Kupiansk and the enemy’s supply routes.
Degtyarev also noted that Russian forces are short on personnel, so there is currently no threat of a breakthrough of Ukrainian defenses in the Kharkiv region.
On August 3, military analyst Yuriy Butusov reported the destruction of a Russian 2S44 “Hyacinth-K” wheeled self-propelled artillery system in the Kupiansk direction.
According to him, this is only the second confirmed instance of this artillery system being destroyed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Despite difficulties in advancing, the Russian army continues to actively use guided aerial bombs (KAB). According to a representative of “Charter,” Ukrainian forces currently do not yet have sufficient capabilities to take down the aircraft carrying out such strikes.
This is reported in a study by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
As of August 4, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released updated data on Russian troop losses. Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders eliminated 1,240 invaders.
On July 30, Robert Brovdi (“Madyar”), commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, reported on the latest combat results of Ukrainian units.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the destruction of a Russian export terminal and military facilities.
