Russia starting to lose ground in Ukraine

As Russia reportedly prepares for a major summer offensive in
Ukraine, battlefield data suggests that Kremlin forces are losing
ground for the first time since 2024

Medium-range drone
attacks: Ukraine is
increasingly targeting
Russian air defences
and logistics behind
front lines, disrupting
MoscowÕs territorial
advances and opening
way for long-range
strikes on Russian oil
and military facilities

Ukrainian
soldier holding
AI-controlled
ÒMarsianinÓ
attack drone,
Apr 2026

RUSSIAN TERRITORIAL GAINS IN UKRAINE BY MONTH (sq km)

Net gain
Net loss (Ukrainian gain)

Jun 2025: Russia begins
summer offensive

Dec 2025: Russia claims
capture of Pokrovsk

Jan 2026
Russian gains
start to shrink
amid Ukrainian
counterattacks
and mid-range
drone strikes

600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-100

427
354
204
187
516
482
457
506
331
274
576
519
319
123
23

Apr 2026:
116 sq km
gained by
Ukraine

MoscowÕs net territorial loss is first since UkraineÕs
Aug 2024 incursion into RussiaÕs Kursk region

Jan 2025
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov
Jan 2026
Mar

Sources: BBC, CNN, ISW, Reuters
Picture: Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS