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Russia Keeps Attacking, but Ukraine Has Liberated More Territory Than Moscow Captured Since Autumn
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukrainian forces have liberated more territory than Russian troops have managed to capture since the beginning of autumn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a briefing on the frontline situation by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi.
In a statement on October 18, Zelenskyy highlighted the results of Ukrainian military operations across several sectors of the frontline, particularly near Dobropillia in Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces continue to eliminate Russian assault groups and prevent infiltration attempts.
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According to the president, Ukrainian troops are also maintaining their defensive positions in other parts of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions despite continued Russian offensive operations.
Zelenskyy specifically praised the effectiveness of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces and the Third Army Corps, whose operations are being conducted as part of the country's active defense strategy.
He emphasized that Ukrainian forces have achieved territorial gains exceeding those made by Russian troops since the beginning of autumn, adding that a similar trend had been observed during earlier periods of the year.
“We continue to maintain pressure along the frontline. Dobropillia, Kostiantynivka, Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, Orikhiv, Novopavlivka, Novoandriivka, and Velykomykhailivka are all under Ukrainian control. We are also defending areas near Kramatorsk,” Zelenskyy stated.
Addressing the situation in Zaporizhzhia region, he rejected Russian claims that Moscow’s forces had advanced to within five kilometers of the regional capital.
According to the president, Ukrainian troops are instead engaging and eliminating Russian forces approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Zaporizhzhia, contradicting Moscow’s assertions about its proximity to the city.
The president’s remarks follow the completion of Operation Vivaldi, a major Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk region that resulted in the recapture of 277 square kilometers of territory and at least 8,000 Russian troops killed or wounded.
The operation, conducted by Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, involved drones deploying combat robots behind Russian lines, coordinated battlefield deception, and a series of strikes and maneuvers that significantly weakened three Russian armies.
During the fourth and final phase alone, Ukrainian forces reclaimed 101 square kilometers (39 square miles), killed more than 3,000 Russian soldiers, and destroyed hundreds of pieces of military equipment.
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-fd827d4182afa4dd7c505b26cac2315b.jpg "A shopping mall damaged during Russia’s missile and drone attack on Kyiv on October 19, 2026. (Source: hromadske)")