Russia Loses Winter Battle in Ukraine as Kyiv Liberates More Territory

Ukrainian Defense Forces have reached a strategic turning point on the frontline, reclaiming more land than they have lost to Russian occupation over the recent period.

According to statements made by Ukrainian officials and military experts on March 1, 2026, this shift marks a significant change in the dynamics of the war following the winter campaign.

Taras Chmut, head of the “Come Back Alive” foundation and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency, stated that the balance of territorial control has swung in Ukraine’s favor.

“For the first time in many months, and perhaps even years, we have begun to liberate more territories than we are losing,” Chmut wrote on the social media platform X. He characterized the current situation as a victory in the seasonal campaign, noting, “Russia lost the 'battle for winter.' And we won.”

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War in Ukraine

How Ukraine Liberated 200 Sq Km in Its Fastest Push Since 2023—Disrupting Russia’s 2026 Plans

Feb 18, 2026 18:27

This assessment follows reports of localized Ukrainian counterattacks across several sectors, particularly in the south. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently confirmed that Ukrainian forces have successfully de-occupied 300 square kilometers of territory on southern fronts.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces launched a major offensive operation on the Oleksandrivsk axis to preempt a Russian advance into the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Led by General Oleh Apostol and involving elite units like the 82nd and 95th Air Assault Brigades, the mission resulted in the liberation of eight settlements and over 300 square kilometers of territory.

Despite heavy resistance, Ukrainian paratroopers successfully expelled Russian groupings beyond the administrative borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region, disrupting the Kremlin’s broader strategic plans for 2026.

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