Oleg Petrasyuk/EPA
In April, Russian forces lost more ground than they gained: they gave up around 120 km². Advances have slowed down for some time.
Russia and Ukraine continue to fight daily and, although there have been no major Russian achievements in recent times, Russia has always achieved slight advantages, month after month.
This has been happening for almost 3 years, but in April 2026, the scenario has changed: the Russia lost more territory than it gained in Ukraine.
According to data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published by Agence France-Presse, last month Russian forces ceded control of around 120 km².
It’s the first time, since the summer of 2023, that Russia loses ground in Ukraine over the course of a month, highlights the .
Russia’s advances have already been decreasing month after month, especially since the end of 2025: there are problems of communication in the Russian army and there are counter-attacks Ukrainians, with Kiev making some advances in the southeast of the country. A third of the recovered territory was in the eastern regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Donetsk.
The Russians conquered several square kilometers of territory mainly east of Kramatorsk – where Russia has concentrated its efforts.
The ISW describes: “Ukrainian medium-range attacks, the blockade, scheduled for February 2026, of the use of Starlink terminals by Russia in Ukraine and the restriction imposed by the Kremlin on Telegram have worsened the problems already existing in the Russian armed forces”.
Another factor for the slowdown in Russian advances: the phase of the year, the nature. Melting frozen ground and spring rains turn the land into mud and make movement difficult.
Even with this setback, the Russia, with dispersed forces, continues to be at approximately 75% of the areas that Ukraine reconquered.
And, even with this small victory in April, this advance by the Ukrainians represents only 0,02% of the country’s territory.
Russia continues to control almost , a percentage that has changed little since the initial phase of the war.
On the front line, fighting continues to cause casualties and damage, especially with drones.
US-led peace talks are suspended; The White House’s priority is Iran.
