Ukraine announced that in May it regained more territory than it lost, reversing Russia's months-long trend of net gains. The Ukrainian military command reported that the pressure on the battlefield was particularly supported by attacks targeting Russian supply lines.
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote that in May, "the difference between liberated and lost areas was approximately 100 square kilometers in favor of Ukraine." Militarnyi, a defense-focused outlet, cited military sources estimating a net gain of 120 square kilometers.
The same report from Militarnyi stated that Russia captured about 130 square kilometers in May but lost around 250 square kilometers. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimated an even higher Ukrainian gain, assessing that Russia captured or infiltrated 40 square kilometers in May but lost control of approximately 280 square kilometers.
The ISW's measurements for the previous month showed a similar pattern. The institute calculated that Russia advanced about 28 square kilometers in April but lost control of 116 square kilometers, noting that Ukraine's gains were increasing.
Syrskyi said Ukraine reclaimed a total of 600 square kilometers in the first five months of 2026. However, the report also noted that Russia made advances in parts of the eastern front.
Pressure Continues on the Eastern Front
Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on June 10 that Russian forces were advancing toward Konstyantynivka, at the southern end of a defensive line consisting of four cities in the Donetsk region. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Russian forces first infiltrated parts of the city in October last year and currently control about 13% of it.
The report stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has prioritized capturing the last fifth of the Donetsk region still out of Russian control, but the deadlines set have been missed multiple times. It also mentioned indications of possible ceasefire talks within this context.
The Ukrainian side attributes progress on the front to a strategy focused on striking Russian logistics networks. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that attacks on fuel and ammunition depots, as well as targets in transit, have disrupted Russian supply lines.
Fedorov noted that the number of hits on targets more than 50 kilometers away doubled in May compared to April. Syrskyi reported approximately 2,000 attacks in total for May.
Commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, Robert Brovdi, said that weeks of attacks south of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia reduced Russian military traffic on the M-14 highway by more than 70%. On June 7, regional authorities completely closed traffic on this route, complicating Russian logistics planning.
Following this, supply routes shifted through Crimea via the E105 and E97 lines. On June 8, Ukraine struck the E105 bridge over the Chongar Strait. On June 9, an ambush near Armyansk targeted about 50 fuel and ammunition trucks rerouted via the E97, destroying some vehicles.
Filatov said this operation would not have been possible without previous attacks on the Mariupol and Berdyansk roads. As a result, units heading toward Hulyaipil have started receiving supplies through Crimea instead of mainland routes.
In Crimea, fuel shortages have also affected civilians, worsening over the past week. On June 7, the Russian-controlled administration in Sevastopol imposed a daily limit of 20 liters per vehicle, later reducing this quota to 20 liters per week.
The report also noted that fuel and food shortages have pressured some outposts to evacuate. The underground group Atesh, active in Crimea, said some Russian units on the Kinburn Spit abandoned their positions due to lack of food and fuel.
Brovdi stated they will continue to make conditions difficult for military personnel and defense industry workers in Crimea and occupied territories. Ukraine reported striking 180,000 targets with short- and medium-range drones in May, a 12.7% increase from April.
Fedorov said that despite Russia launching 25% more Shahed-type drones in May compared to April, the number of drones shot down rose to about 4,000. He added that with the serial production of new-generation interceptor drones, the defense process will become largely automated.
The report also highlighted that Ukraine’s long-range strikes have severely damaged Russian refineries, oil depots, and unloading terminals, pressuring oil production and export revenues. Russia has established its own unmanned systems units to counter the Ukrainian drone threat but struggles to staff these units adequately.
