Putin Claims Russia Captured 5,000 Sq Km in Ukraine

Putin Claims Russia Captured 5,000 Sq Km in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russian forces have taken control of nearly 5,000 square kilometers of territory in Ukraine this year. Speaking during a meeting with military commanders, he asserted that Moscow holds the strategic initiative in the ongoing conflict.

Putin stated that the gains made in 2025 represent about 1% of Ukraine's total land area, with Russia currently controlling nearly 20% of the country. He noted that Ukrainian forces are retreating across all fronts, despite their attempts to resist. "At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative," he said, emphasizing the progress made in liberating 4,900 square kilometers and over 200 localities.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported the capture of two additional villages, while Ukraine's military dismissed these offensives as failures, claiming that Russian forces have not secured any major cities this year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned that his troops have made gains in the Donetsk region and the border Sumy region, where Russia has established a presence.

General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of Russia's armed forces, stated that Russian troops are advancing in multiple directions, with intense fighting reported in Pokrovsk and surrounding areas. He indicated that Russian forces are also making progress in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, while efforts to establish buffer zones in Sumy and Kharkiv are ongoing.

Putin reiterated that the objectives of the military operation, launched in February 2022, remain unchanged, focusing on the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine. The situation continues to evolve as both sides engage in fierce combat across various fronts.