As of January 1 this year, Russian troops have seized 4,669 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory.
This constitutes only 0.77% of the country's total territory (603,628 sq. km).
Modern.az reports that the information was disclosed by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
In 2025, the advance was 22% more compared to 2024; last year, the Russian army occupied 3,734 sq. km.
This relatively rapid advance is a result achieved by the Kremlin at the cost of significant losses. According to the General Staff of Ukraine, in 2025 alone, Russia lost over 391,000 military personnel, including dead and wounded. This means more than 83 dead and wounded for every square kilometer.
ISW notes that the pace of the Russian army's offensive is “no more than an infantry step.” This situation has not changed even in the directions of Huliaipole and Pokrovsk, where more active fighting has taken place in recent months. Analysts do not expect an increase in the speed of the offensive in the near future. The main reason is the superiority of Ukrainian drones on the battlefield. Drones limit the possibilities for rapid maneuver using heavy equipment and force Russian troops into prolonged, casualty-ridden infantry assaults.
Other assessments on the topic present higher figures. AFP writes that Russia seized approximately 5,400 sq. km of territories in 2025.
Overall, Moscow has occupied approximately 20% of Ukraine – more than 120,000 sq. km of territory.
