All articles tagged with #military advances
In 2025, Russia claims to have seized over 5,100 sq km of Ukraine, including key towns, but evidence from the Institute for the Study of War suggests these claims are exaggerated. Meanwhile, Ukraine and the US are engaged in peace talks, with Ukraine receiving significant international aid and support, and both sides continuing to exchange strikes.
Russia claims to have advanced in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a strategic logistics hub, while Ukraine reports holding its positions and thwarting Russian supply cuts. The situation remains tense with ongoing fighting, and the broader conflict continues without peace talks, as Russia seeks to expand its territorial gains in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has captured nearly 5,000 square km of Ukrainian territory in 2025, claiming strategic initiative and advances in multiple regions, despite Ukrainian resistance and recent gains in some areas. Russia's military efforts focus on consolidating control and advancing in key regions, while Ukraine reports territorial gains and setbacks for Russian forces.
Russia claims progress on all fronts in Ukraine, but Ukrainian officials report minimal gains and warn of upcoming Russian offensives, with ongoing battles and geopolitical tensions including Russia's drone attack on Poland.
Ukraine marked Flag Day with a symbolic act by raising its flag over villages in Russia’s Kursk region and regained control of a village in Donetsk Oblast, amid ongoing military advances and territorial struggles in the region, with Ukraine's President Zelensky downplaying Russia's territorial gains and emphasizing the slow pace of Moscow's expansion.
Russian forces have advanced in Donetsk Oblast, bypassing Ukrainian defenses and threatening key logistics routes, with ongoing heavy fighting and potential for further territorial gains, as Ukraine struggles to hold its positions amid Russian offensive operations.
Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Siversk during a reinforced mechanized assault, with increased use of armored vehicles in some tactical attacks after a period of decreased armor deployment. Russia maintains its goal of Ukraine's capitulation, rejecting diplomatic overtures, while Ukrainian forces killed a Russian commander near Velykyi Burluk. The conflict continues with ongoing Russian offensives across multiple fronts, including limited attacks in Kursk Oblast and drone strikes targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. Russian military activity also shows signs of testing new tactics and resupply efforts.
Russia claims its forces have crossed into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, a move rejected by Kyiv, amid ongoing tensions and a planned prisoner exchange. The advance is largely symbolic but raises concerns about further escalation in the Ukraine conflict, with Russia also making gains in the northeast and demanding Ukraine's surrender of several provinces. Meanwhile, efforts continue for a prisoner swap, despite delays blamed on Ukraine.
Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine's Sumy region, seizing villages and potentially creating a buffer zone along the border, as part of Moscow's strategic plan to support border areas and distract Ukrainian forces from the main conflict in Donbas. Despite slow progress and Ukrainian defenses, the situation remains tense with ongoing attacks and evacuations, but a major breakthrough in Sumy appears unlikely in the near future.
Russian forces have reportedly captured the village of Orlivka in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast, with the Russian Ministry of Defense claiming the advance, although this has not been independently confirmed. A map from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) illustrates the reported capture and other recent Russian gains in the region. Additionally, there have been clashes in the border region and attacks on the northeastern city of Kharkiv, while Ukraine faces critical shortages of weapons amid delays in U.S. Congress for further support. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has warned of dire consequences if Ukraine does not receive additional assistance.
Russian forces have made confirmed gains in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), with advances near Kreminna, Bakhmut, and Avdiivka. Geolocated footage shows Russian forces entering Sieverne and capturing Lastochkyne, while other maps indicate advances in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. The ISW believes Moscow's forces have regained "theater-wide initiative" and could pursue offensive operations, prompting Ukraine to prepare for battle and claim the downing of a Russian aircraft. French President Macron has not ruled out the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces report shooting down multiple Russian attack drones and cruise missiles.
Intense fighting continues in Avdiivka, Ukraine, as Russian forces make advances near the city, while Ukraine adopts a defensive winter strategy and Russia escalates its bombing campaign. The Institute for the Study of War reports confirmed Russian advances northeast of Kupyansk in Luhansk Oblast and north of Bakhmut and southwest of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. Russian troops are encircling Avdiivka, aiming to cut off reinforcements and control the western approach routes. Losing Avdiivka would pose new dangers for Ukraine and be a significant political blow. Ukrainian forces are holding the defense, causing significant losses to the occupiers.
Russia claims its troops are advancing on all fronts in Ukraine, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stating that they are occupying more favorable positions and expanding their zones of control. However, observers have seen little movement on the front lines. President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree to boost troop numbers by 15 percent, citing growing threats and the expansion of NATO. The town of Avdiivka remains a major flashpoint, with Russia intensifying its assaults in an attempt to encircle and capture the industrial hub. Ukraine continues to fend off Russian attacks and has reported orchestrating attacks on a Russian railway line in Siberia.
Ukraine's marine corps claims to have secured multiple bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, resulting in significant Russian casualties and the destruction of ammunition depots and military equipment. This marks a strategic advancement for Ukraine across one of Russia's key barriers. Western officials confirm that Ukraine has established a foothold on the eastern side of the river, with portions of three brigades present. However, the gains are considered small in the overall ground war, and neither side is currently capable of mounting decisive offensive operations. Ukraine is struggling to gain support from allies as attention is focused on other conflicts, and no additional military funds have been promised.