They say Dobropillia is encircled, but they are actually 10+ km away: ISW publishes map disproving Russia’s claim

An analytical report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published on 24 September challenges Russia's claim that the city of Dobropillia is encircled. Based on their observations, the nearest Russian forces are located 10.2 kilometers southeast of Dobropillia's outskirts. Russia has been disseminating misleading information to portray Ukrainian defenses as on the brink of collapse, according to ISW, which labels it as a form of cognitive warfare.

The Ukrainian military maintains that Dobropillia remains under their control. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry published a map depicting Dobropillia as encircled and claims that Russian forces are already destroying encircled Ukrainian troops in the area. ISW analysts have found no evidence supporting Russia's assertion, and Ukrainian officials directly refute the claim.

ISW also noted that Russian infiltrators, although present in the eastern and northeastern areas around Dobropillia on 19-20 September, have not consolidated their positions. Russian forces have not achieved significant gains towards Dobropillia, reported an artillery reconnaissance battalion's chief of staff on 22 September. A Russian milblogger stated that Dobropillia's alleged encirclement might not involve direct infantry presence but rather fire control over Ukrainian logistics, including roads west of Dobropillia and toward Sviatohorivka.

ISW highlighted that Russia's habit of lying, termed "beautiful reports" by Russian milbloggers, has degraded their own understanding of the battlefield and facilitated exaggerated claims such as the Dobropillia encirclement. Russia uses such disinformation as a diversion to divert attention from Ukraine's successful elimination of a Russian salient north of Lyman, prompting Russia to rethink its broader encirclement plans.