Ukraine logs rare southern-front gains, reclaiming eight settlements

Ukraine says it has regained about 400 square kilometers of territory along the southern frontline since late January, including eight settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk region—a rare gain amid a two-year war. Oleksandr Syrskyi did not specify how much was previously Russian-held or in grey zones. Kyiv did not immediately clarify with its General Staff. The report comes as domestic and international actors, including Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, commented on Kyiv’s gains and broader negotiations.