May 1-8 live war map: Russia loses victory on May 9

Luhansk frontline updates. Russian troops offensive on Kupyansk

Having captured Kyslivka back in late April, this week the Russian forces expectedly developed their offensive to the west and south. They occupied the village of Kotliarivka and advanced along the highway to Kupyansk, which is still 20 kilometers away. In addition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrew from a small section of the road between Krokhmalne and Novoselivske and consolidated their position near Berestove. Unexpectedly, near Kupyansk, Ukrainian soldiers recaptured several positions north of Synkivka, which the Russians have not been able to take for over a year.  

On the frontline near Kreminna, the Russian invaders were pushing so hard for the Lyman that they missed a hook from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who counterattacked near Yampolivka and recaptured the positions they had lost several months ago. 

Meanwhile, both Russian and Ukrainian military leaders are actively talking about a possible offensive from the Belgorod and Kursk regions to Kharkiv and Sumy. However, the Russian grouping of troops in this area has increased by as much as 4,000. This is obviously not enough for a full-scale offensive, and therefore, most likely, they are talking about raids deep into Ukraine to distract Ukrainian reserves. The Russians have simply copied the tactics the Russian Volunteer Corps used a few months ago. 

Chasiv Yar is preparing for “victorious” assaults

By May 9, as Putin had ordered, the Russians had not only failed to take Chasiv Yar, but had not even prepared the battlefield for a decisive offensive on the city. In particular, near Bohdanivka, their advance was very small, and the Ukrainian Forces even managed to recapture a position south of the village. Ukrainian defense forces are holding their positions on the edge of Ivanivske, making it impossible for the Russians to carry out their favorite bypass maneuver. In Klishchiivka and Andriivka, Ukrainian defenses are also holding strong.

And since Putin's order has not been canceled, it is likely that the occupiers will try to attack Chasiv Yar head-on without preparing their flanks. This could end in total disaster for them. A series of events point to this. In particular, small reconnaissance groups of the invaders have already begun to cross the channel. Despite assurances from the Ukrainian Armed Forces that they have eliminated all of them, there are still battles in some areas to reach the outskirts of the city. But they have definitely not been able to gain a foothold here. In addition, the Russian troops carried out powerful aerial bombardment and destroyed the bridge across the canal that connected the main part of Chasiv Yar with the Kanal district. They also blew up another bridge in Ivanivske to complicate logistics for Ukrainian troops holding part of this village.

Map of active hostilities in the Pokrovsk-Toretsk direction

In the post-Avdiivka area, the situation has finally begun to resemble a certain stabilization of the front. First of all, this concerns the southern section, near Umanske. Here, the Russian forces advanced about 100 meters in Netailove and several hundred meters in the direction of Yasnobrodivka. In addition, the Russians have occupied a gray area south of Pervomaiske, which will increase their pressure on the village of Nevelske, where the Ukrainian Forces have been holding the line for over 1.5 years.

After the occupation of Semenivka and Berdychi, Ukrainian Defense Forces managed to completely stop the Russian troops' movement to the west.  

An important defense area was the village of Sokil, where defensive positions had previously been built. Therefore, the Russian troops did not manage to move far from the previously captured Soloviove. In addition, it was in this area that the Ukrainian Defense Forces prevented the expansion of the Russian-controlled zone around the already occupied Ocheretyne. Therefore, the Russians are trying to bypass the village of Sokil from the south and have advanced a kilometer in the direction of Novopokrovske.

Meanwhile, north of Ocheretyne, the Russians are still progressing, albeit slowly. In the western direction, they approached a kilometer from the outskirts of Novooleksandrivka. From the north, after Keramik was captured, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were forced to leave Arkhangelske as well, as it was cut off from logistical routes and the terrain did not allow for defense.

The Russians still have a choice of offensive vector: westward to Pokrovsk or northward to Toretsk and Kostiantynivka. However, certain events indicate that the Armed Forces are controlling the situation. In particular, the 110th Brigade returned to the Avdiivka area, replenished its ammunition and immediately shot down a Su-25. Instead, the 3rd Assault and 47th Brigades went to rest. This means they had the option to do so.

Krasnohorivka, Marinka and Vuhledar - weekly frontline updates

Five months after the complete occupation of Marinka, the Russians still cannot leave the city. Their offensive to the west toward Heorhiivka has completely failed. So did the offensive to the south, where the maximum success was the capture of the village of Pobieda, which consisted of several dozen houses. The Russian invaders then focused their efforts on storming Krasnohorivka, north of Marinka. They attacked from two directions - east and south. While the Ukrainian Defense Forces prevented the enemy from entering the city from the eastern flank, on the southern flank, the Russians managed to consolidate in several neighborhoods and regularly attack the central areas of Krasnohorivka. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces regularly drive the invaders out of the city and push them back to the outskirts.  

After the occupation of Novomykhailivka, the Russians stumbled over Paraskoviivka and their movement westward stopped. Moreover, it is obvious that they are preparing for a new assault on Vuhledar. Currently, Ukrainian soldiers are repelling all attacks, but the Russian Forces are readying new reserves to take this strategic town for the Donetsk region's defense. 

Southern Front - Ukraine's counteroffensive results review

The Russians launched a large-scale offensive in the Berdiansk direction, where they stormed Urozhaine and Staromayorske for a week. In a few days, they managed to take several Ukrainian positions near both villages and come a kilometer closer to their outskirts. Nevertheless, the price was high — at least 23 units of armored vehicles: tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers.   

Despite the expansion of the gray zone in the central streets of Robotyne and the Russian attempts to break into the northern streets of the village, Ukrainian Defense Forces keep controlling most of it, including the western and eastern parts. On this section the Russian Armed Forces were also tasked with winning by May 9, auditing the results of the summer counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, to no avail.

The maps are based on information received from the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces, as well as other open and verified sources. At the same time, the maps are not as accurate as possible and only conditionally reflect trends in the combat zone.