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Russia claims major territorial gains in Ukraine amid disputes
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have made significant claims regarding territorial gains in Ukraine. Putin asserted that Russian forces have captured approximately 6,500 square kilometers of territory and 310 settlements since the beginning of 2026. Gerasimov further claimed that since September 1, Russian troops have seized more than 1,800 square kilometers and 92 settlements.
These assertions are heavily disputed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Ukrainian officials. The ISW reports that Russia has actually captured only about 100 square kilometers and 69 settlements since the start of the year, and notes that Russian forces have lost approximately 122 square kilometers of territory since the beginning of September. Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovaliov rejected the Russian accounts, stating that Ukrainian forces have actually liberated more territory since the start of autumn than the enemy has captured.
Additionally, Ukrainian military estimates report significant Russian personnel and equipment losses, including over 2,000 troops in a 24-hour period and numerous artillery systems and vehicles. The discrepancy between Kremlin reports and independent satellite/situational analysis has led some observers to characterize the Russian claims as propaganda intended to create an illusion of victory.
Entities
Andriy Kovaliov · Institute for the Study of War · Russia · Russian Army · Ukraine · Ukrainian Armed Forces · Valerij Gerasimov · Valery Gerasimov · Vladimir Putin · Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Front observer Vladimir Romanov claims the General Staff's report to the President contains information that is partially or entirely untrue. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Moscow claims to have seized approximately 6,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory and 310 settlements since the beginning of the year. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Satellite and situational analyses from the US-based Institute for the Study of War present a different picture of the conflict than the claims made by Putin. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that more than 1,800 square kilometers and 92 settlements have been captured since September 1. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · +7 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Vladimir Putin claims Russian troops are advancing along the entire frontline. www.fehmarn24.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] BBC reports that at least 281,753 Russian soldiers have died in the war. zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.echo24.cz
- [● 2 SOURCES] The actual number of Russian fatalities may range between 512,000 and 626,000. zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.echo24.cz
- [● 4 SOURCES] Russian forces have lost 122 square kilometers of territory since the beginning of September. pmo.ee · jauns.lv · www.ceskenoviny.cz · www.forum24.cz
- [● 5 SOURCES] The ISW reports that Russia has captured approximately 100 square kilometers and 69 settlements since the beginning of 2026. pmo.ee · jauns.lv · www.leinetal24.de · www.ceskenoviny.cz · www.forum24.cz
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ukrainian forces claim to have liberated more territory since the beginning of autumn than Russian forces have captured. axadletimes.com · www.iltalehti.fi · www.tekniikkatalous.fi