Zelensky: Ukraine has retaken more territory than Russia captured this fall

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on October 18 that Ukrainian forces have reclaimed more land than Russian forces have seized this fall. Speaking in an evening video message, Zelensky stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are effectively countering Russian attack attempts in Dobropillia, while simultaneously defending their positions in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, emphasizing a strong front.

This pattern has persisted throughout the year, as Ukrainian forces have consistently liberated more territory than the Russians have managed to capture, according to Zelensky.

Since the beginning of fall, Ukrainian forces have liberated an additional 16 settlements and an area of 277 square kilometers (106 square miles) in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast, according to a report by the Third Army Corps. This achievement is part of 'Operation Vivaldi,' which has led to the liberation and return of a total of 16 settlements and 277 square kilometers (106 square miles) to Ukrainian control.

However, Russian military officials continue to exaggerate their claimed advances on the front lines, as highlighted by an October 17 post sharing findings from a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an independent conflict monitor based in the U.S. Russian forces have lost an average of seven kilometers daily through October 2026, contradicting Russian President Vladimir Putin's false assertions of ongoing Russian advances.

The ISW suggests that these false claims are made by Russian forces to create a narrative of military success, hoping to compel Ukraine and its Western partners to negotiate with Russia's demands.