Institute for the Study of War Ukraine Frontline Update (05/02/24)

Luhansk Oblast

Russian forces continued assaults along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on May 2, and Ukrainian forces reportedly made recent gains south of Kreminna.

*Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn stated that Ukrainian forces recently improved their tactical positions in the Serebryanske forest area (south of Kreminna).*

A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces are actively counterattacking with extensive first-person view (FPV) drone support west of Kreminna near Yampolivka and Terny.

Donetsk Oblast

Northern Bakhmut Area

Positional fighting continued in the Siversk direction (northeast of Bakhmut) on May 2, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline.

Chasiv Yar

Russian forces continued offensive operations east of Chasiv Yar on May 2, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline.

Ukraine-based open-source organization Frontelligence Insight reported on May 2 that Russian forces have temporarily crossed the Siverskyi-Donets Donbas Canal south of Chasiv Yar where the canal flows underground but have not established enduring positions on the western side of the canal, which is consistent with ISW’s current assessment of Russian advances in the area.

Avdiivka Direction

Russian forces recently made confirmed advances west of Avdiivka amid continued Russian offensive operations in the area on May 2.

Geolocated footage published on May 2 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced north of Ocheretyne (northwest of Avdiivka) and south of Pervomaiske (southwest of Avdiivka)

Donetsk City Direction

Russian forces continued offensive operations west and southwest of Donetsk City on May 2, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline.

Southern Axis

Western Zaporhizia Direction

Positional fighting continued in western Zaporizhia Oblast near Robotyne and Verbove (east of Robotyne) on May 2, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline.

A milblogger claimed that Russian forces are struggling to provision frontline forces in western Zaporizhia Oblast with critical equipment like radios.

Kherson/Krynky Direction

Positional fighting continued on east (left) bank Kherson Oblast near Krynky on May 2, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline.