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Russia Suffers First Net Territory Loss in Ukraine Since 2024
Analysts said Ukrainian counterattacks and drone strikes cut Russian gains as Moscow’s advance slowed to 2.9 square kilometers a day in early 2026.
- Russian forces suffered a net loss of 116 square kilometers of controlled territory in Ukraine last month, marking the first territorial decline since the 2024 Kursk operation, according to the Institute for the Study of War .
- Sustained Ukrainian ground counterattacks and intensified mid-range drone strikes on logistics infrastructure drove this reversal, while analysts note Russian forces faced growing coordination challenges and restricted battlefield communications.
- The OSINT project DeepState reported that Russian forces occupied 11.9% less Ukrainian territory last month than in March, despite Kremlin attempts to use infiltration tactics to exaggerate continuous progress.
- This shift forces immediate revisions to Russian operational planning and affects troop morale, as Moscow's rate of advance has plummeted by 80%, described by analysts as "sputtering."
- While Russia maintains a manpower advantage, current attrition patterns suggest a broader slowdown in offensive momentum that constrains Russian tactical options for the coming months, analysts say.
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Ukraine has gained territory for the first time since the summer of 2024.
·Aarhus, Denmark
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Ukraine is slowing Russia down and clawing back ground in key areas, war experts say. Here's how it's finding fresh wins.
Ukraine has slowed Russia's rate of advance and in February took back more territory than Russia seized for the first time in years, war experts said.
·United States
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Total News Sources9
Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Left
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Left
57% Left
L 57%
R 43%
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