Ukrainian President's Statement
During a virtual appearance at the Reuters Next conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Russia has forfeited the initiative on the majority of front-line sectors. According to him, while the enemy launched attacks along 12 axes, Moscow now retains the upper hand in only two or three of them.
“I believe the situation is genuinely shifting. On the battlefield, as I’ve mentioned, Russia has lost the initiative in certain areas. They attacked us. They carried out offensive operations on 12 fronts. We witnessed it. And they have lost the initiative on nearly all of those fronts,” Zelenskyy noted.
Combat Operations and Losses
Over the past 24 hours, 228 combat engagements were recorded. The adversary launched two missile strikes using 74 rockets and carried out 82 airstrikes, dropping 226 guided aerial bombs.
“They still have a lot—an enormous number of soldiers, an enormous amount of everything. But they have slowed down there. And on other fronts, they have truly lost the initiative. And we have seized it,” the president added.
Zelenskyy also highlighted that this month Ukraine has liberated 100 kilometers along one axis, noting that Kyiv is currently more successful on two or three fronts. Additionally, 9,297 kamikaze drones were deployed over the day, and 2,726 shelling attacks targeted populated areas and positions.
These remarks from the president point to potential shifts in the dynamics of combat operations on the front line, as well as the efforts of Ukrainian forces to regain control over strategic territories. Russia’s loss of initiative may signal resource exhaustion or an inability to sustain further offensives, which in turn opens new opportunities for Ukraine. Such changes could influence the overall course of the conflict and the strategies of both sides in the near future.
As the battlefield dynamics evolve, the implications of Russia's diminishing capabilities are becoming increasingly evident. In light of Zelenskyy's recent remarks, understanding Moscow's monthly losses and the principal threats it faces could provide deeper insight into the ongoing conflict and its potential trajectory.