Yeah, I can imagine you would think that if you only focus in on one sector of warfare (frontline advances), and on one sector of the frontline. People seem to forget that having the "initiative" doesn't mean you won't take tactical or even strategic losses in some subsectors of the war.

No one is denying Russia took a major defeat in the Lyman direction that significantly improves Ukraine's position around Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Borova, but this hasn't changed the overall trajectory of attrition being inflicted, or the war in general. Stop being so hyper-focused on the more "comfortable" aspects of the war, and view it holistically. Everything feeds into everything and influences everything. Nitpicking certain changes to try paint a narrative is misleading and downright misinformation.

Ukrainian forces have re-established control over the village of Vodyane, Velykyi Burluk direction, Kharkiv Oblast (Kupyansk District).

Pre-war population: ~124.
Total land area: ~2.30 km².

The fighting for Vodyane lasted approximately 20 days.

Ukrainian forces have recaptured the village of Anyshchyne, Velykyi Burluk direction, Kharkiv Oblast (Kupyansk District).

Pre-war population: ~176.
Total land area: ~1.30 km².

The second battle for Anyshchyne lasted at least two weeks.

Ukrainian forces have recaptured the village of Ivashchyne, Velykyi Burluk direction, Kharkiv Oblast (Kupyansk District).

Pre-war population: ~19.
Total land area: ~0.19 km².

The second for Ivashchyne lasted at least two weeks.

Explosions in Kyiv.

The city is under attack from Russian Geran-4 jet-drones again.

Two petrol stations were hit by Russian Geran-4 jet-drones in Kyiv.

A third petrol station was just hit by a Geran-4 in northern Kyiv.

More Geran-4 jet-drones are flying in from Chernihiv Oblast.

Smoke is seen rising over northern Kyiv following the impact of a Russian Geran-4 jet-drone at a petrol station.

Scenes from one of the hit petrol stations in Kyiv.

Over the last two weeks, Ukraine has been carrying out a series of counterattacks and stabilising actions in the northeastern corner of Kharkiv Oblast, aimed at eliminating the threat of encirclement to it's forces stationed in the salient east of Vovchansk.

Towards the end of July, Russia began a two-pronged attack from the east and west aimed at cutting off around 430 km² of Ukrainian-controlled territory. To do this, they achieved a series of tactical breakthroughs into several different villages, and began advancing towards the key logistical hub of Prykolotne.

The Ukrainian command quickly sent in reinforcements to hold back the line, and despite losing the villages of Anyshchyne, Ivashchyne, Ustynivka, Shevyakivka, and Artilne on the eastern flank, they were able to slow the Russian advance and eventually stabilise the situation. Several small assault groups were dispatched to the Dovzhanka area to clear out Russian soldiers who infiltrated it in mid-August. After being unable to consolidate, Russia began heavily shelling these areas with artillery and MLRS, while deploying reinforcements to try hold back additional Ukrainian counterattacks on Anyshchyne.

The Ukrainian counterattacks on Anyshchyne would eventually prove successful after they were able to clear Russian infiltrators from the villages of Vilkhuvatka and Vodyane to the south, with them re-establishing control over Anyshchyne at the beginning of September. Since then, new counterattacks have been underway slightly further north, where Ukrainian forces managed to clear the fields east of Chorne and Kupyne from earlier Russian infiltrators and began counterattacks on Ivashchyne, which they were also able to recapture at the beginning of September.

Following these tactical losses, the local Russian command requested airstrikes on Ukrainian positions throughout these villages to try prevent them from accumulating and beginning attacks eastward towards the international border. Dozens of KABs were dropped on these areas, including deployment points in villages further west, however Ukrainian forces were still able to recapture some positions east of Ivashchyne and Ustynivka, and are now engaged in battles for Ustynivka itself.

Meanwhile, to the south, Russia has resumed assault operations near Khatnje, making new advances north of the village towards Zarubynka, and attacking towards Khatnje itself.

+ ~44.0 km² in favour of Ukraine.
+ ~2.16 km² in favour of Russia.

Interactive map: amkmapping.com

Here's a closer up view of the main focus of the ongoing Ukrainian counterattacks in the northeastern corner of Kharkiv Oblast.

A Russian Geran-4 jet-drone strike destroyed a shunting locomotive in the city of Barvinkove, Kharkiv Oblast.

The Russian Ministry of Defence issued a statement regarding their overnight missile and drone attacks on Ukraine:

In Kyiv City and Kyiv Oblast, they claim to have astruck the "Bi-mobile" data centre, which allegedly provides data storage and hosts network equipment for the Ukrainian military; and the Hostomel logistics centre which allegedly stored and distributed components for the production of medium-to-long-range drones.

In Odesa Oblast, the MoD claims to have targeted an automotive components plant used to carry out repair and maintenance for Ukrainian military vehicles; a warehouse containing components for foreign-made jet-drones in the village of Vyzyrka; two dry cargo ships at Chornomorsk allegedly carrying military cargo; a motorboat; and tanks containing fuel and lubricants allegedly intended to be supplied to the Ukrainian military.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, they claim to have struck the "Dnipro" logistics centre, allegedly used to store aircraft-type drones and their components.

In Khmelnytskyi City, the MoD claims to have targted a Nova Poshta terminal, allegedly used to store and distribute aircraft-type drones and their components.

Explosions are heard in Dnipro.

The city is once again under attack from Russian S8000 Banderol cruise missiles.