Russian forces have made rapid territorial gains in Ukraine, capturing an area equivalent to half the size of Greater London in just one month, marking their fastest advances since the initial invasion in 2022.
According to analysts and war bloggers, Moscow’s forces have set new records for occupied territory, with nearly 235 sq km (91 sq miles) taken in the last week of November alone.
The report from independent Russian news group Agentstvo highlights that Russian forces secured 600 sq km (232 sq miles) in November, a sharp acceleration in their offensive, particularly in the eastern regions of Ukraine.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that Russian troops are advancing faster than they did throughout 2023, with a focus on Kurakhove, which lies along a key route towards the logistics hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk.
The Ukrainian army, facing heavy losses and supply shortages, has struggled to contain the Russian offensive.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has maintained that peace can only be achieved once all Russian forces are expelled, including from Crimea. However, the Ukrainian military’s difficulties in recruiting soldiers and securing adequate equipment have compounded the challenges at the frontline.
The ongoing conflict, now entering what many consider its most perilous phase, has raised concerns internationally, especially as the US has permitted Ukraine to strike back using US-supplied missiles, intensifying the stakes for both sides.
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