On 1 October, Ukrainian forces entered Lyman, trapping 5,000 Russian soldiers inside the city. Over a 24-hour period, Russian forces carried out 4 missile strikes, 16 airstrikes, and 75 shelling attacks targeting both military and civilian infrastructure, with the heaviest intensity concentrated on Zaporizhzhia. Iranian Shahed-136 drones were also used during these attacks. Meanwhile, on the southern front, the Ukrainian troops eliminated 64 Russian soldiers and destroyed an ammunition depot, 16 tanks, 2 self-propelled howitzers, and 11 vehicles. Governor Oleh Synyehubov reported the discovery of a civilian convoy that had been attacked by Russian forces near Kupiansk. The attack resulted in the deaths of 24 civilians, including 13 children.

For the Russian public opinion, Russia’s withdrawal from Lyman was a much more severe media blow than its retreats from Kyiv, Snake Island, and the Kharkiv region. Following news of the Russian troops withdrawal from Lyman, Ramzan Kadyrov called for the use of nuclear weapons. 

Russia took steps to transfer control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar to Rosatom. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued their counteroffensive in the Kherson region, preparing for further advances. On the other hand, the Russians launched land attacks near Bakhmut and Avdiivka and continued their assaults on Ukraine’s southern hinterland. In addition, Russia attempted to mobilize as many reservists as possible, employing discriminatory methods.

On 3 October, it was reported that Russia was planning to transfer Rosgvardia units from the Siberian Military District and the Russian military contingent in Syria, into Ukraine. 

On 4 October, the United States announced its 22nd aid package for Ukraine, totalling $625 million. The package included four M142 HIMARS systems, 155mm and 105mm howitzers with ammunition, and MRAP vehicles. Russia had conscripted more than 200,000 people since announcing a “partial mobilization.” 

In response to Russia’s recognition of the independence of Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, and parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed a decree annulling the actions that violated Ukraine’s sovereignty.