Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian forces have taken control of almost 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles) of territory in Ukraine since the beginning of the year, as the conflict enters its fourth year.
Speaking during a meeting with senior military officials, including Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, in St. Petersburg on Tuesday evening, Putin stated: “This year, we liberated nearly 5,000 square kilometers, 4,900 to be specific, and 212 population centers. Our soldiers and officers played the decisive role in making that happen.”
Putin added that Russia maintains the “strategic initiative” in the war, crediting the country’s defense industry for supporting what he described as “successful operations.” He said Ukrainian forces are retreating along the entire front line, adding that Kyiv’s attempts to target civilian sites inside Russia “to impress Western sponsors” would not alter the outcome.
Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that the most intense battles are occurring near Pokrovsk and in the Dnipropetrovsk region, asserting that Russian troops have captured over 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions since early September. Ukrainian authorities have not commented on these statements, which remain difficult to independently verify due to ongoing hostilities.
