Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 22, 2026 - Institute for the Study of War

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) falsely claimed that Russian forces have encircled Dobropillya — an intensification of the Kremlin’s cognitive warfare campaign alleging encirclements across various sectors of the frontline to falsely present Ukrainian defenses as collapsing . The Russian MoD claimed on September 22 that the Russian Central Grouping of Forces encircled Dobropillya and are advancing toward Oleksandrivka (northwest of Dobropillya).[1] The MoD’s vague statement notably did not include a map or any evidence to support these false claims. ISW has observed no evidence to support the Russian MoD’s encirclement claims, which are incompatible with recent Ukrainian statements.