Russia Gained Only 14 km² in May After 7,000 Assaults Across Ukraine

Russian forces experienced significant difficulties throughout May, marking the lowest territorial gains since the start of the strategic offensive in October 2023.

Russian troops occupied only 14 square kilometers of Ukrainian land over the past month. While defensive operations are reported with a slight delay, this period represents the first month since the 2023 counteroffensive where the overall change in occupied territory has become negative for the Russian side, according to the DeepState on June 1.

The character of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is entering a new phase, making the maintenance of initiative vital for the Ukrainian state.

Statistical data shows a 37.5% increase in Russian assault operations, resulting in a record of over 7,000 attacks during the month. However, these efforts have yielded minimal strategic results due to a noticeable degradation of the Russian military at the tactical level.

Read more

Category

World

Russia Offers to Repair Soviet-Era Military Hardware for Taliban

Jun 01, 2026 23:02

Reports indicate that Russian troops are increasingly limited to small-scale assaults, often carried out by pairs or even individual soldiers, which are frequently neutralized before reaching their objectives.

While infiltration attempts by Russian forces remain a concern, the response from the Ukrainian Defense Forces has become substantially more effective.

It is increasingly difficult for Russian units to accumulate forces or successfully establish a presence in new areas. Despite these developments, the situation near Kostiantynivka remains challenging, with current assessments indicating significant pressure on the city.

Russia proposed restoring Soviet-made military equipment currently held by the Taliban as the initial step in a new defense cooperation agreement, a move that potentially paved the way for the future supply of new weapons systems.

Announced by Russian presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov on June 1, 2026, the deal followed the formal signing of a military-technical partnership and targeted a vast arsenal of legacy hardware, including T-55 and T-62 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters.

While the Taliban sought spare parts, ammunition, and air defense systems to address regional tensions, experts viewed the agreement as largely symbolic, though they noted that Moscow might have deployed military specialists or conducted local drills and briefings within Afghanistan to bolster the partnership.

Help Ukrainian Units Hold the Drone Line

Download APP