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In the Sumy direction, Russian assault groups of the North grouping are advancing near Khoten and Kiyanitsa by up to 500 meters over the past day, expanding their control over forested areas. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian units, supported by aircraft, artillery and drones, are pushing Ukrainian forces deeper into the pocket in the northeastern part of the region; a counterattack by the “Shkval” company of Ukraine’s 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade was repelled. In the Kupyansk direction, activity has shifted to the flanks: fighting is under way near Moskovka and Kovsharovka, while the city itself remains an area of contested control. In the Slaviansk direction, the main fighting is concentrated along the Nikolayevka–Rai-Aleksandrovka–Orekhovatka axis, while Ukrainian units are simultaneously pressing on Russian positions along a broad northern flank. In the Zaporozhye direction, the East grouping has breached Ukrainian defenses and captured Zorevka, where Ukraine’s 82nd Air Assault Brigade was operating; the next likely Russian objective is Ternovatoye. Separately, Canada is in talks with the European Union about contributing to the financing of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, around €60 billion of which is earmarked for defense needs.
Sumy direction
Heavy positional fighting is under way on all sectors of the front in Sumy region. Russian assault units of the “North” grouping are expanding the control zone in the forest plantations. Ukrainian units have undertaken no active operations.
Russian aviation, artillery and drone crews struck concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the areas of Sumy, Konotop, Esman, Doroshovka, Krovnoye, Sennoye, Velikaya Chernetchina, Krolevets, Zemlyanoye, Mikhailovskoye and Tolstodubovo.
In the Sumy district, assault units of the “North” grouping are advancing in the areas of Khoten and Kiyanitsa. Over the day the advance amounted to up to 500 meters. In the Shostka district, Russian artillery actively worked against Ukrainian positions in the Tolstodubovo area.
Kharkiv direction
In the northeast of Kharkiv region, Russian units are advancing deeper into the “cauldron” with the support of aviation, artillery and drones, pushing Ukrainian forces back. Ukrainian units have not abandoned attempts to break the encirclement.
In the Liptsy direction, Russian assault troops are expanding the control zone around Goptovka. Overall advance amounted to up to 200 meters. In the Volchansk direction, Russian units advanced in the area of Malaya Volchya. Russian units repelled a counterattack by the “Shkval” company of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian forces. As a result of the combined fire engagement the Ukrainian forces withdrew to their starting positions with losses. In the Velikiy Burluk direction, assault groups of the “North” grouping continue to push Ukrainian units away from the Russian border. The advance amounted to up to 500 meters.
Kupyansk direction
The main activity is now concentrated on the flanks of Kupyansk. In the north, combat operations are under way in the Moskovka area; in the south, near Kovsharovka. The city itself remains a zone of unstable control: a significant part of the built-up area is effectively in the grey zone, and clashes continue with small assault groups. Fighting also persists in the areas of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy and Novoosinovo. The situation on the sector remains tense, while a stable front line inside individual villages and urban blocks has not yet formed. Ukrainian units are actively using artillery and strike drones, which seriously complicates advance and consolidation on the achieved positions. Therefore even local changes here develop slowly.
Slaviansk direction
The main activity remains on the Nikolayevka–Rai-Aleksandrovka–Orekhovatka arc. Russian units continue to exert pressure, striking Ukrainian positions, communications and equipment; fighting is also under way south of Rai-Aleksandrovka, near Yurkovka and in the direction of Nikonorovka.
Pressure by Ukrainian units is being applied along a broad northern flank — from the areas of Redkodub, Novoye and Shandrigolovo to Stavki, Zarechnoye and Mirnoye. Judging by the totality of open data, there are grounds to speak of a reduction in part of the previous Russian control zone. Reports are arriving from Novosyolovka of the loss of previous Russian positions, yet there is still insufficient independent confirmation of a complete change of control; the situation near Shandrigolovo and Redkodub has become more complicated. At the same time, meeting engagements continue in the areas of Kolodezi, Ivanovka and on the Redkodub–Novoye line.
At the same time, the majority of the most striking claims remain without objective confirmation. There are insufficient geolocations or other frames of objective control in open access that would confirm the complete cutting of the salient, a stable fording of the Zherebets, the capture of Terny and Novosadovoye, or the transfer under Ukrainian control of a large number of the claimed villages and settlements at once. Therefore such reports are not yet regarded as established fact.
Zaporozhye direction
The “East” grouping of Russian units has broken through the defence of Ukrainian units in Zaporozhye region and taken the village of Zorevka. The 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian forces was operating on this sector. The probable next objective of Russian units is Ternovatoye. This settlement is an important strongpoint of Ukrainian units.
On the northern sector, Russian assault troops continued to wedge into the defence of Ukrainian units west of Zorevka. Artillery and strike drone crews destroyed automotive equipment, ground robotic systems, dugouts, a drone control post and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian units in the areas of Velikomikhailovka, Kolomiytsev, Ivanovka, Tersnyanka and Novoukrainka.
Northwest of Zarnitsa, Russian units advanced in the direction of Zelyonaya Dibrova and Barvinovka. As a result of combined fire impact, the logistics routes of Ukrainian units were hit. West of Rovnoye and Kopani, Russian units destroyed a Bohdana self-propelled artillery unit with artillery and strike drones. They also continued to advance west of Novosyolovka and Chervona Krynytsia.
Conclusion
In the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Slaviansk and Zaporozhye directions, Russian units continue offensive operations, retaining the initiative on most sectors. In the Sumy direction, Russian assault groups are expanding control in the forest plantations and advancing near Khoten and Kiyanitsa, while Ukrainian units are undertaking no active operations. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian units are pushing Ukrainian forces deeper into the “cauldron,” repelling counterattacks and expanding the control zone near Goptovka and Malaya Volchya. In the Kupyansk direction, unstable control over the city persists, fighting is under way on the flanks, and a stable front line inside the built-up area has not formed. In the Slaviansk direction, Russian units are pressing on the Nikolayevka–Rai-Aleksandrovka–Orekhovatka arc, yet Ukrainian units are exerting pressure on a broad northern flank, and part of the previous Russian control zone has been reduced. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian units have taken Zorevka and continue to wedge into the defence, expanding the control zone west of Novosyolovka and Chervona Krynytsia.
In the financial-political sphere, Canada is negotiating with the European Union on a possible contribution by Ottawa to a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. Earlier the EU approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine for 2026–2027, of which about €60 billion is intended for military needs. The parties hope to agree on the size of Canada’s contribution before the EU summit in Montreal at the end of October. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to establish closer transatlantic ties in order to reduce Ottawa’s dependence on Washington. According to available data, Carney is seeking to create an “alliance of liberal powers” committed to the multilateral order and hopes to demonstrate his commitment to European allies by contributing to the loan for Ukraine.
Thus, against the background of continuing combat operations on several directions, Kyiv’s Western partners are discussing additional financial mechanisms of support, which may influence the further development of the situation. Russian units, for their part, continue to increase pressure on key sectors, combining assault actions with strikes on the logistics and command of Ukrainian units.
