In March 2026, the Russian army made no territorial gains in Ukraine for the first time in more than two and a half years. This may be linked to Ukraine’s actions in the southeast.
Details
AFP reported this, citing data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The pace of Russia’s offensive has been slowing since late 2025. In February 2026, Russian forces captured 123 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. This is the slowest result for the aggressor state since April 2024. During that period, Ukraine’s Armed Forces regained 9 square kilometers.
ISW assesses that the slowdown in Russia’s offensive may be linked to restrictions on the use of Starlink terminals. Researchers also mention attempts by the Kremlin to limit the use of the Telegram messenger, which Russian troops used to communicate on the front line.
Situation on the front
In February, Russia lost control in the area between Ukraine’s Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Russian forces first captured parts of this territory in June 2025. By the end of January 2026, they controlled about 400 square kilometers in this sector. However, AFP noted that the area under Russian control shrank to 200 square kilometers in February. In March, it decreased further to 144 square kilometers.
In the Donetsk region, further north, the situation for Ukrainian forces is less positive. This concerns areas near Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Near the latter city, Russian forces occupied 50 square meters over the course of a month.
In 2025, Moscow occupied more Ukrainian territory than in the previous two years combined. However, AFP notes that the trend is changing. In the first three months of 2026, Russian territorial gains were significantly smaller compared to the same period last year. ISW also reports that Russia is trying to pressure Ukraine and its allies by threatening to fully capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
“The Kremlin is trying to create a false sense of urgency by reportedly trying to force Ukraine to cede the unoccupied part of Donetsk Oblast, which Russian forces have proven unable to take on the battlefield,” the report said.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Bucha Summit 2026 that Russia aims to capture Donbas within two months and is putting pressure on the United States.
