Ukrainians Hold Ground, Push South as Russia Tightens Information Controls
Ukrainian forces remain on the defensive in southern Ukraine with ongoing advances near Kupyansk, Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka, and Zelensky claiming about 300 km² liberated in the south; ISW cites roughly 169 km² of Ukrainian gains since Jan 1, 2026. Kyiv has intensified long‑range strikes against Russian defense‑industrial and energy assets (including the Votkinsk Plant in Udmurtia and the Neftegorsk gas plant). Russia continues a broad drone and missile campaign and is expanding information controls at home, with a new FSB‑backed law to block Telegram, while Belarus supports drone operations against Ukraine and NATO airspace. The war remains active across multiple fronts (Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Sumy), with ongoing infiltration attempts and battlefield interdictors on both sides.
