Ukrainian soldiers are within striking distance of Russia's next line of defence.

Ukrainian forces acquired strategic victories in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, attacking over some of the region's most challenging series.

[{"selector":"#anim-f4c28de8-0228-46f6-9cfc-196e0d2a43d8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -6.978155511205841e-7%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4ca2784-e738-4413-8a9b-db6066c82cd8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5b05f6f-0ed3-491c-a03c-d8ddf65115f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.77133%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PIXEL

Russian defences, as reported by the Centre for the Study of War's daily report on August 26.

[{"selector":"#anim-ca1c08f5-fb4f-4e4b-a8f6-ee02c0561c36 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -8.928571179351586%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79a72c66-beaf-406d-b6c6-59163ee4f6eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PIXEL beautiful ukrainian female soldier

Formerly known US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley declared that the Ukrainians had succeeded in breaching Russia's main defence belt.

[{"selector":"#anim-50e48443-80bb-453a-8430-93b7042f6168 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -8.928571179351586%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6689978b-c8bd-4e3a-9dff-19e3c39fea0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a1567c2-9296-4dc0-9d09-8100c44c2b51","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.21036%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PIXEL

As reported by Bbc and Reuters, there have been signs that Ukrainian troops have scaled Russian defences along the southern front and may be able to move faster.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ea53e9e-2fab-424c-8c2b-a298c8daa74f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -6.978155511205841e-7%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc6f9548-6f28-4589-978c-6a58840a9797","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf53a4b0-21bb-4424-a012-7558e7abb816","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -236.68763%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PIXEL

Russian sources, Ukrainians attacked the back of defence positions of authority near Verbove. Ukrainian forces are currently inside the range of the next phase of Russian defence lines.

[{"selector":"#anim-daea0d37-0953-4944-a880-8d9ea17c63f0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -8.928571179351586%, 0) translate(0%, -25%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-508cf211-bebb-4d4e-a436-15fa81fb4ee8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(112.65823%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3a2c250-692a-404f-bf9a-7896ac8dab09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8d45875-7ee8-478c-be74-df4e24dff329","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] PIXEL

Judging to the ISW, the Russian defences are stronger than the last group, yet they remain a major challenge.

[{"selector":"#anim-48c5ead2-451c-4eb4-9aeb-792ebea5f87e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -6.978155511205841e-7%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4245db48-8f71-43a4-abc7-74b6280c4aa7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] PIXEL

When the occupation force prepared for the displayed Ukrainian advances into Melitopol in and Berdiansk, Russia's barriers are the most complex and powerful in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

[{"selector":"#anim-2130b9b1-df95-4e9f-af4c-9a611ee9130c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 8.928571677791263%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e23222a-522f-46bd-85b8-42cdf1395799","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-821f98d2-c47d-4fd2-adfc-bed457506157","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 125.59387%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PIXEL