Ukrainian counteroffensives under initiatives such as Operation Vivaldi have produced net territorial gains since early fall 2026, with Ukrainian forces liberating more ground than Russian units seized across Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia sectors. Recent reports confirm Ukrainian positions holding or advancing near key settlements including Kostiantynivka, Dobropillia, and areas east of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, while refuting Russian claims of rapid advances toward Zaporizhzhia city or specific villages. Intense fighting continues around Huliaipole and Pokrovsk, with Ukrainian units conducting localized counterattacks and clearing operations that could extend to smaller contested points. These developments, alongside ongoing artillery, drone, and infantry clashes, shape trader assessments of whether Ukrainian forces can re-enter specific frontline villages by the market's resolution date amid fluid but contested lines of contact.