Russia made large-scale territorial gains in Ukraine last year that exceeded in size and strategic importance those achieved in any other year since the start of the full-scale invasion, with the exception of the launch year, 2022, according to an in-depth analysis published by AFP on Friday based on data from the Institute for the Study of War.
The Russian army managed to extend its control over more than 5,600 square kilometers (equivalent to 0.94% of the total area of Ukraine) during 2025. These figures confirm a shift in the dynamics of the battle after periods of relative stagnation in previous years.
Details of field control in 2025
These gains include vital areas that Kyiv and Western military analysts assert are now under effective Russian control, in addition to areas officially declared by the Russian Ministry of Defense to be within its operational area. The territory captured in 2025 is larger than the total area seized by the Russian military in 2023 and 2024 combined, indicating a significant escalation in the pace of Russian offensive operations, although these figures remain less than the 60,000 square kilometers captured in the first year of the war.
In detailing the timeline of the advance, Russian forces reached the peak of their advance during November 2025 by controlling 701 square kilometers, while December witnessed a noticeable slowdown as control was limited to 244 square kilometers, the smallest area since March of the same year, which may indicate the impact of weather conditions or the repositioning of forces.
Strategic context and impact of the war
This Russian advance comes at a time when Ukraine is facing unprecedented military and logistical challenges. Since the outbreak of war in February 2022, the fighting in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donbas region, has devolved into a brutal war of attrition. Russian superiority in artillery and drone warfare has created gaps in Ukrainian defenses, forcing Ukrainian forces to make tactical retreats on several fronts to conserve manpower.
Throughout 2025, Ukrainian cities and infrastructure were subjected to enormous pressure from continuous missile and air bombardment, which eroded defensive capabilities and led to Kyiv steadily surrendering territory to the Russian military in an attempt to reorganize its rear defense lines.
The political track and diplomatic efforts
On the political front, US President Donald Trump held intensive talks with both the Russian and Ukrainian sides in an effort to end the fighting, which has drained the resources of both sides and impacted the global economy. However, these efforts have so far failed to extract any substantial concessions from the Kremlin.
Moscow, which currently occupies nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory, insists on its preconditions, including the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the eastern Donbas region as a prerequisite for peace. Kyiv, in turn, accuses the Russian leadership of not being serious about the negotiations, arguing that Moscow is deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts to buy time and seize more territory to impose a fait accompli on the ground.
