Ukraine’s Armed Forces Disrupt Russian Occupiers’ Plans Near Kostiantynivka: What’s Happening At The Front

08.10.2026, 02:38 uatv.ua

The situation remains most tense in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. UATV English looks at the situation in other sections of the front.

In certain sections of the front in the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukraine has managed to bring tanks back onto the battlefield. The Telegraph writes about this. According to the outlet, for two years the Russians managed to destroy armored vehicles approaching the front line with drones. But this summer the situation changed: Ukraine’s Armed Forces first destroyed the enemy’s logistics to a depth of up to 160 km, and then drone operators hunted Russian crews, forcing them to retreat. After that, infantry in cooperation with tank units held the recaptured territories. The outlet notes that Ukraine’s Defense Forces applied this approach in Kharkiv region as well. In particular, Ukraine’s 475th Assault Regiment published video showing two tanks attacking Russian positions in Vilkhuvatka. Along with the vehicles, heavy “Vampire” strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), FPV drones, and reconnaissance assets took part in the attack.

Meanwhile, border guards showed the work of Ukrainian drones in the Lyman direction. Pilots of the “Phoenix” unit provided aerial support for the offensive during the 3rd Army Corps’s Operation “Vivaldi.” The fighters managed to cut the Russian army’s logistics, destroying occupiers’ vehicles and motorcycles and disrupting deliveries of weapons and ammunition to forward positions.

In certain sections of the front in Donetsk region, Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian forces six to one. National Guard of Ukraine Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko cited these figures. He noted that Russian occupiers continue to actively use infantry, drones, and aviation. Despite this, Ukraine’s Defense Forces hold their positions, thwart enemy assaults, and inflict losses on its personnel and equipment.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian forces actively assaulted in the Kostiantynivka section of the front in Donetsk region — in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Osynove, Novoselivka, and Illinivka.

Also in Donetsk region, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled occupier attacks on the Pokrovsk bridgehead, where the enemy tried to advance toward Dobropillia, Svitle, Myrne, and Serhiivka.

“The fighting is brutal, but the Defense Forces control the situation on the line of combat contact. And the enemy has no desired successes. Moreover, the Defense Forces are conducting a number of actions aimed at collapsing the enemy’s plan, as well as aimed at achieving objectives that help us reach advantageous defensive lines,” said Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade “Achilles” of the Unmanned Systems Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

And Ukrainian defenders have four more Russian guns to their credit. As the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported, soldiers of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade burned three enemy howitzers: “Msta-B” and “Hyacinth-B.”

A drone launch site, a command post, and a river crossing: units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a number of important Russian military facilities. In the area of temporarily occupied Donetsk, a storage, preparation, and launch site for strike drones was hit. Units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces also struck aggressor facilities in Russia’s Belgorod region — an arsenal of materiel and an enemy command post were hit there. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that the aim of the operations is to reduce the occupation army’s capability to use strike drones against civilian infrastructure on Ukrainian territory.

Over the past day, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck facilities working for the aggressor’s war machine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He clarified that this time the long-range strikes reached Samara region, and positions of “Iskander” ballistic missile system crews in Bryansk region were also hit. In addition, Ukraine’s president mentioned new effective strikes in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been put on heightened combat readiness ahead of the anniversary of the strike on the so-called Kerch Bridge on October 8. The “Atesh” movement reports this. According to the partisans, Russian military personnel were ordered to patrol the waters more frequently and step up training for repelling threats from the sea. Coordination between drone operators, air defense, electronic warfare (EW), and patrol boat crews is also being practiced. “Atesh” claims Russian command fears combined attacks on ships, logistics routes, and shadow fleet vessels.

Ukrainian military personnel note: such a tie to a date is yet another propaganda move by the Kremlin, as symbolism is extremely important to Russians, while Ukraine sticks to its military strategy.

“That goes back to Soviet times with them: a five-year plan in three years, seize something by the dictator’s birthday. Of course, it’s more logical to strike when the enemy least expects it. And of course, if you strike when he’s just prepared, it becomes an additional slap in the face for him. Nobody has canceled our missions. And of course, Russian ships, combat units, boats — anything that tries to go out to sea or take to the skies — are legitimate military targets for us,” noted Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk.

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