Ukrainian forces have prioritized counteroffensives in the Lyman and Slovyansk sectors of Donetsk Oblast through Operation Vivaldi, recapturing villages such as Pyskunivka and Ozerne while contesting heights near Kryva Luka as of early October 2026. These efforts have disrupted Russian attempts to encircle the Fortress Belt cities but have not extended to significant ground operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Uspenivka remains under Russian control following its earlier capture. Russian forces continue limited advances in western Zaporizhzhia amid broader attrition across multiple axes, with no verified Ukrainian territorial gains reported near the village in recent weeks. Trader consensus reflects the structural challenges of reallocating resources for a recapture amid ongoing Russian pressure in the east and the absence of major Ukrainian momentum in the southern sector.