Kovalenko: Ukraine retakes nearly 1,000 square kilometers in 2026

According to military and political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko from the Information Resistance group, Ukraine regained approximately 1,000 square kilometers of territory in 2026. Kovalenko pointed out that comparing the territory captured by Russia to what they lost, the nation has experienced a net loss. He further stated that Ukraine's Defense Forces have liberated more land since January 2026 than during the 2023 counteroffensive.

Kovalenko highlighted that as of today, Ukrainian forces have reclaimed nearly 1,000 square kilometers in 2026. This territory was primarily liberated in the southern operational zone, specifically in the border region where Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhya oblasts meet, between the Vovcha and Vorona rivers.

Kovalenko's claims align with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's assertions. On May 22, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had reclaimed 590 square kilometers of its land from Russian forces since the start of 2026. In August, Ukrainian troops reported the outcomes of an Air Assault Forces offensive in the Oleksandrivka sector, spanning from January 29 to August.

Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukrainian troops liberated 745 square kilometers during this period, regaining control of 26 villages spread across Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhya oblasts. On September 23, Zelenskyy mentioned that Russian forces had seized around 890 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of 2026, while Ukraine's Defense Forces had liberated approximately 800 square kilometers.

On September 15, the commander of Third Army Corps, Andriy Biletskyi, publicly confirmed for the first time that Ukraine's army was conducting an offensive in northern Donetsk Oblast, named Operation Vivaldi. By September 28, Biletskyi revealed that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had reclaimed 176 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since the start of Operation Vivaldi.