Russia’s pace of territorial gains in Ukraine has slowed to its lowest level since late 2024. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces captured 203 square kilometers of Ukrainian land in March 2025—down from 627 square kilometers in November.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) reported an even lower figure of 143 square kilometers for March.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 05 April 2025.
Find out more about Defence Intelligence’s use of language: https://t.co/M4zHzkP1GS #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/1vdj0VpqYg
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 5, 2025
Both sources agree that Russia’s advances have steadily decreased each month since November 2024, with the majority of the gains concentrated in central Donetsk Oblast.
The UK MOD reported that the number dropped to under 400 in December, around 326 in January, and 195 in February. Meanwhile, the ISW provided slightly different figures, stating that Russia gained 569 square kilometers in December 2024, 427 square kilometers in January 2025, and 354 square kilometers in February 2025.
According to ISW, Ukrainian forces have slowed Russia’s momentum through localized counterattacks, especially near Pokrovsk and Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian troops retook several positions in these areas, reversing some of Russia’s earlier gains and limiting Moscow’s ability to push further east.
Despite its losses, Russia still controls about 20% of Ukraine. Earlier, the ISW estimated that it would take Russia more than 83 years to capture the remaining 80% of Ukraine, assuming they could sustain current casualty rates.
Between March 29 and April 4, Russia claimed that its forces captured four settlements in Donetsk and two villages in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Over the weekend, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the capture of the Ukrainian village of Basovka in the Sumy region. On Monday, they reported the subsequent seizure of the Donetsk village of Katerynivka.
