Russia Claims Seizure of 400 sq km of Ukrainian Territory

Russia announced on Tuesday that its military has successfully taken over an area of 400 square kilometers (approximately 150 square miles) in Ukraine since the beginning of the year. This marks Moscow’s first significant territorial expansion in nearly a year, happening as Ukraine grapples with shortages of manpower and ammunition, compounded by delays in receiving crucial support from Western allies.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu highlighted the recent gains in the territories of Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia, areas that Russia declared annexed in 2022 despite not having full control over them. “Since the start of the year, our control has expanded over 403 square kilometers,” Shoigu stated, indicating the continued advancement of Russian forces pushing Ukrainian troops towards the west.

During a briefing to Russia’s top military officials, as per the ministry’s report, Shoigu mentioned the capture of the strategic town of Avdiivka in February, near Donetsk’s Russian-controlled capital. This is seen as Russia’s most significant territorial gain since May of the previous year. Additionally, in the past month, Russian forces have taken over five more settlements, with four located in Donetsk and one in Zaporizhzhia.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the recent uptick in Russian territorial control does not necessarily indicate a looming operational success for Russia, especially with ongoing delays in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. The ISW pointed out Ukraine’s “material constraints” affecting its defense, noting the lag in the $60 billion military aid package from the U.S. Congress and the slow pace of European artillery shipments to Ukraine.

The ISW’s assessment suggests that Russia now occupies over 100,000 square kilometers, which constitutes around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.