Ukrainian troops advance near Bakhmut and in Zaporizhzhia — ISW

This was reported by ISW. 

The report says that as of September 3, Ukrainian troops advanced near Bakhmut and in the west of Zaporizhzhia region. 

"Ukrainian forces have advanced up to the next series of prepared Russian defensive positions in certain areas in the Robotyne area in western Zaporizhia Oblast, although many Russian sources assert that these positions are the first, not the second, defensive layer in a multi-echeloned Russian defense in southern Ukraine," the report notes. 

Ukrainian military officials have noted that the strength of the next series of Russian defensive positions around Robotyne will likely depend on the composition of Russian forces in the area. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksandr Rodyansky said that future Russian defenses are not that well protected.

Ukrainian Tavria Group of Forces Spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun also noted that Russian forces are deploying reserves of unknown quality for defense in the area. Presumably, this refers to the redeployment of units of the 7th Guards Airborne and 76th Guards Air Assault Divisions to the Robotyne area from other parts of the front.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces are carrying out offensive operations in the Melitopol sector. Geolocation footage released on September 2 and 3 shows that Ukrainian forces are in control of the south of Klishchiivka. Currently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have made progress in the direction of Verbove (18 km southeast of Orikhiv).

Ukrainian counteroffensive

On June 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a counteroffensive on the southern frontline, continuing a series of offensive operations near Bakhmut and in other directions.

On June 19, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated Pyatykhatky, Zaporizhzhia region, and advanced up to 7 km in the Tavria direction.

On June 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces officially confirmed the liberation of the territories near Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, which had been under occupation since 2014.

On June 26, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had de-occupied the village of Rivnopil, Donetsk region. It is located in the Volnovakha district of the Donetsk region. The Russian army occupied the village in March 2022.

On July 25, the Ukrainian Defense Forces drove the Russians out of their positions near Andriivka in the Bakhmut direction, and in the Staromayorske area, they succeeded and are consolidating their positions. The Ukrainian Armed Forces restrained the Russian offensive near Marinka and repelled enemy attacks in other areas.

On the same day, it became known that Ukrainian soldiers had liberated the village of Staromayorske in Donetsk region.

Subsequently, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Defense Forces had already broken through the first line of defense in some places and were now moving to the intermediate line.

As of August 9, it was reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces have taken back over 40,000 square kilometers of our land from the Russian invaders since February 24, 2022.

On August 10, it was reported that the Defense Forces had partial success near Urozhayne and Staromayorske, and were entrenched near Bakhmut.

On August 16, the Ukrainian military completely liberated Urozhayne in Donetsk region. Defense forces are consolidating their positions.

On August 23, the General Staff reported that the Defense Forces had made progress and were gaining ground in Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka in Zaporizhzhia region.

On August 28, the Ukrainian MoD officially confirmed the liberation of the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia region.

On August 29, the General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had succeeded in the direction of Novodanylivka - Verbove in Zaporizhzhia region.