Russia's slowing advance in ukraine, despite recent breakthroughs

Russia's military made its smallest territorial gain in nearly three years on the Ukraine frontlines in March, as its offensive pace slowed, according to a new analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Russian army, once rapidly expanding its control, captured a mere 23 square kilometers in the month, losing ground in certain areas, while Ukraine's counterattacks pushed Moscow back, particularly in the south-east.

Ukraine's localized breakthroughs thwart russian advance

The ISW's data, compiled with Agence France-Presse, shows Russia's advances have been steadily dwindling since late 2025, even as Ukraine's localized successes continue to accumulate. Despite this, the Russian military's overall push remains unchecked across the entire front line.

The slowdown in Russia's gains was attributed to Ukrainian counteroffensives, as well as Moscow's restrictions on using Starlink terminals in Ukraine and the Kremlin's efforts to limit access to the popular messaging app Telegram, which has been all but unusable for Russian forces in recent months.