Analysis shows Russia made most territorial gains in 2025 since first year of war

Russian forces made their biggest territorial gains in Ukraine in the past year since the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, according to an analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War that was published by AFP on Friday.

The past year saw the Russian military capture over 5,600 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory — nearly 1% of the country, AFP reported, using both areas that Kyiv and military analysts say are controlled by Russia, as well as those claimed by Moscow.

Russia’s territorial gains in 2025 exceed those it made in 2023 and 2024 combined, though they remain far below the 60,000 square kilometres seized during the first months of the war in 2022. 

In November alone, Russian forces captured over 700 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory, making it the most successful month of 2025 for Moscow’s military campaign. Despite the Russian military capturing three key Donbas cities in December, Kremlin forces only managed to seize 244 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory last month.

Amid Russia’s continuing bombardment of Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was preparing to host security talks in Kyiv on Saturday, which are expected to be attended by 15 allied countries, including a US delegation via video link.