Ukraine claws back southern territory as Russia’s war enters fifth year
Why it matters: The war's evolution, marked by incremental territorial shifts and evolving tactics, signals a protracted conflict with profound implications for regional stability and the balance of power between Russia and the West.
- Ukraine has clawed back territory in the south and strengthened air defenses, showcasing resilience against Russian aggression.
- President Zelenskyy asserts that Russia is failing on the battlefield and resorting to attacks on civilian targets, while the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests Ukrainian counterattacks may have disrupted Russian offensive plans.
- The ISW attributes Ukraine's recent successes to disabling Russian access to Starlink and Telegram, while also noting Russia's costly and protracted campaign to capture even strategically diminished locations like Pokrovsk, underscoring the war's grinding nature.
As Russia's war on Ukraine enters its fifth year, Ukraine has made limited territorial gains in the south, reclaiming between 300-400 sq km since late January, while also improving its air defenses; however, Russia's costly capture of Pokrovsk highlights the slow and bloody nature of the conflict. Despite these gains, President Zelenskyy acknowledges the war's outcome remains uncertain, while accusing Putin of targeting civilian infrastructure due to battlefield failures.
