Russian forces cease territorial gains in Ukraine for the first time since 2023

According to analysis by Agence France-Presse based on data from the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces recorded no territorial gains in Ukraine during March 2026, marking the first such instance since September 2023. In some sections of the front, Russian troops have reportedly retreated. The Russian advance has been slowing since late 2025 due to Ukrainian counterattacks in the southeast. In February, Russian forces advanced by 123 square kilometers, while in March, they captured only 23 square kilometers across the entire front. Russia lost territory in the southern sector between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where its held area dropped from over 400 square kilometers in late January to 144 square kilometers by the end of March. The ISW attributes this slowdown to Ukrainian counter-offensives and internal Russian constraints, such as restricted Starlink access and efforts to limit Telegram usage in favor of the Max platform. However, the report excludes unverified penetration operations claimed by Moscow. Despite the overall slowdown, the situation remains challenging for Kyiv in northern sectors.