Ukraine’s quiet counteroffensive took 745 square km. Russia’s dead Starlink is how
Six months, 26 settlements, and almost no video. Russia lost its battlefield communications three days in, and Ukrainian armor drove through the gap.
In a six-month counteroffensive starting on January 29, Ukrainian forces liberated approximately 745 square kilometers of southeastern Ukraine, liberating around 26 settlements. This marks the largest territorial gain for Ukraine since 2023. The collapse of Russian communications, notably due to the loss of Starlink satellite terminals, proved pivotal in enabling this counteroffensive.
Between February and July, Russian regiments only captured a net total of 260 square kilometers of Ukrainian soil, the fastest advance since January 2025. Ukrainian paratroopers and assault troops capitalized on the Russian communication blackout to advance in tanks and armored vehicles, counting on the Russian connectivity issues to clear a path for heavy forces.
The Ukrainian gains helped to offset Russian gains in the Donetsk Oblast, but the momentum was unsustainable as the Russians gradually restored command and control in the summer, leading to a stabilization of the gray zone.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
