Moscow [Russia], October 29: This month alone, Russian troops have advanced 478 square kilometers into Ukrainian territory , a record since March 2022, according to AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW, USA).
By October 27, Russian forces had gained more territory than in August and September 2024 (477 and 459 km2 , respectively ) following major changes on the frontline, especially in eastern Ukraine around the city of Pokrovsk, according to an October 28 AFP analysis of data from the ISW.
Russian forces are now just a few kilometers from Pokrovsk, where they are approaching from the south and east.
The Russian military's advance shows the difficulties facing the Ukrainian army in the east, where the Russian army is better armed and outnumbers Kyiv's forces.
Russian troops are also making territorial gains in northern Ukraine, having taken control of more than 40 square kilometers near the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv province.
Captured by Russian forces in the early stages of the conflict, Kupiansk was later recaptured by Ukraine in a counter-offensive in September 2022.
The last time Russia made such advances was in March 2022, when it advanced on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the early stages of the conflict.
During 2023, the Russian army captured only 584 km2 of Ukrainian territory. However, since January 1, 2024, they have captured more than 2,660 km2 .
From the start of the military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 until October 27, 2024, Russia has captured 67,192 km2 of Ukrainian land.
Together with the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and eastern Ukraine regions controlled by Moscow-backed separatists before the military campaign in February, Russia now controls 18.2 percent of Ukraine's 2013 territory.
AFP's new analysis is based on data released daily by the ISW, which is sourced from information released by both sides and satellite imagery.
There is currently no information about the reaction of Russia or Ukraine to the above analysis of AFP.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
