Ukraine refutes Russian claim of capturing 1,800 sq km and 100 settlements since September

Dispute over territorial gains Ukraine’s General Staff spokesman, Andriy Kovaliov, rejected the Russian military’s recent statements that its forces had seized more than 1,800 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and close to 100 settlements since the start of September. The Russian claim, conveyed by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to President Vladimir Putin, also mentioned the capture of the eastern town of Dobropillia. Kovaliov countered that Ukrainian defence units have reclaimed more area than Russia has managed to occupy during the same period, describing the Russian narrative as an illusion intended for domestic audiences.

Front‑line dynamics Both sides acknowledge that front‑line movements have largely stalled this year, with combat concentrated in a “kill zone” that stretches across the Donetsk region. Russian forces continue to press towards the so‑called “fortress belt” cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, targets whose capture would advance Moscow’s objective of controlling the whole industrialised Donetsk area. However, Kovaliov maintained that Dobropillia, situated southwest of those cities, remains under Ukrainian control despite sustained attacks.

Air campaign escalation The stalemate has been accompanied by an intensified aerial campaign. Russia launched hundreds of ballistic missiles throughout the summer and early autumn, and analysts expect further strikes on critical infrastructure such as heating and power facilities as winter approaches. In response, Ukraine, which possesses a comparatively limited missile stockpile, has carried out numerous long‑range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, vessels and commercial sites.

Recent Russian strikes Russia also reported a large‑scale overnight operation targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, including the country’s largest steelworks in Kryvyi Rih, owned by Arcelor Mittal, which halted production in September after earlier missile hits. The Russian defence ministry claimed the plant supplies steel to Ukraine’s military‑industrial complex. Additional Russian attacks were said to have hit an electricity substation in Zhytomyr.

Contextual overview The competing narratives illustrate the information war that accompanies the physical conflict. While Moscow presents the territorial figures as evidence of progress, Kyiv emphasizes ongoing Ukrainian advances and the resilience of key towns. Both parties continue to employ air power to pressure each other’s logistical networks, raising concerns about civilian impact as winter draws near.

Overall, the dispute over claimed gains underscores the broader deadlock on the ground, with neither side achieving decisive breakthroughs despite heightened missile and drone activity.