Russia occupied 445 sq. km in December: pace of advance fell by 12%

Situation on the front in December

According to Главком: In December, Russian troops occupied 445 sq. km of Ukrainian territory, which is 12% less than in November. This decline in the pace of advance is accompanied by a decrease in the number of assaults, which has fallen by 9%. The largest territorial losses for Ukraine are recorded in the Sloviansk section, where 35% of the total losses occurred.

In the Pokrovsk section, 26.5% of territorial losses were recorded, as well as 32.5% of all assaults. The Hulyaipil section shows 10% losses and 11% assaults, while in the Novopavlivsk section, 8% of territorial losses were recorded with 11% of assaults.

Overall Picture of Territorial Control

In total, in 2025, Russian occupation troops controlled about 4.7 thousand sq. km of Ukrainian territory. In 2024, Ukraine lost control over more than 3.6 thousand sq. km. These data indicate a difficult situation at the front and a change in the dynamics of hostilities.

A decrease in the pace of occupation and assaults may indicate changes in the strategy of Russian troops, as well as possible problems with resources or organization. At the same time, despite the decline in the capture of new territories, control over significant areas of Ukrainian territory remains in the hands of the occupiers, emphasizing the prolonged and complex situation at the front. These circumstances may affect further decisions and strategies of both Ukrainian and Russian military commands in the future.