Russian territorial gains in Ukraine drop sharply in early 2026 compared to same period in 2025

Summary

Russian forces captured 104 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory between January and May 2026, a dramatic decrease from 1,619 square kilometers during the same period in 2025, according to the ISW. Ukraine has also reclaimed approximately 40 square kilometers around Donetsk, per the OSINT project DeepState. Experts suggest Ukraine's recent battlefield gains and growing ability to disrupt Russian logistics are eroding Moscow's battlefield advantage, potentially forcing the Kremlin to consider more decisive action.

Source

bskyRussian territorial gains in Ukraine drop sharply in early 2026 compared to same period in 2025themoscowtimes.com