Ten Months of War to Gain 46 Square Miles: How Russia Is Failing on the Battlefield
Ukrainian forces have foiled Moscow’s offensive in the Donetsk region. The Russian army is making one more push.
In the fifth year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the country has made minimal progress despite initial plans to encircle key cities in the Donetsk region. As of October 2026, Russian forces have gained only 46 square miles of territory, compared to 1,874 square miles in 2025, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
In fact, the past two months have seen Russian forces lose more land than they gained, with 54,000 casualties reported in October alone. Ukraine's midrange strike campaign, primarily involving drones, has significantly disrupted Russian supply lines, hampering their ability to bring reinforcements to the front lines. The Russian logistics system has been severely disrupted, making it difficult for Moscow to maintain a strong presence on the battlefield.
The plan for a pincer movement to encircle Donetsk's cities, including Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostiantynivka, was derailed by Ukrainian counterattacks and drone attacks on Russian logistics. Despite the setback, Russian troops are continuing to focus on a small town called Dobropillia, where they have managed to infiltrate but are still far from taking control. This ongoing battle is expected to be slow and costly for both sides.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
