In the last two weeks of February, the Ukrainian army has liberated more territory than it has lost, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). According to the report published by the institute, this is the first such situation since the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023.
According to President Volodimir Zelenski, Ukrainian forces have regained control of 460 square kilometers, approximately 10% of the territory lost by Kiev in 2025.
The ISW’s estimate is more conservative: approximately 257 square kilometers recovered. Analysts, however, emphasize that the front line is diffuse and there are numerous “gray zones”, which makes it difficult to accurately assess the areas controlled by each side.
The most significant successes of the Ukrainian forces were in the Dnipropetrovsk Region, where the presence of Russian troops has been reduced to just three localities, and in the Zaporizhia Region, where nine towns and localities have been recaptured since January.
According to the ISW report, these counterattacks could jeopardize Russia’s plan to launch a major offensive in the spring-summer of 2026.
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