Russia Advances: Moscow Reclaims Territory and Strengthens Control in Ukraine Conflict

Russia Reclaims 800 Square Kilometers in Kursk Region

Moscow Claims Control Over 75% of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson

Russian Forces Advancing on All Fronts
War No Longer Dependent on Ukraine, Says Moscow

MOSCOW, Feb 20 (FFN) – Russian military officials have announced that they have regained control of over 800 square kilometers (309 square miles) of land in the Kursk region, reclaiming nearly 64% of the territory previously taken by Ukraine since last year. According to Colonel General Sergei Rudskoi, head of the General Staff’s main operational directorate, Russian forces have made significant advances across multiple directions, pushing Ukrainian forces into a defensive stance since February 2024.

Speaking to Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Rudskoi emphasized that Russia now holds 75% of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, along with over 99% of Luhansk. He reiterated that these territories are now legally considered part of Russia and will not be ceded back to Ukraine.

“Last year marked a decisive shift in fulfilling our objectives,” Rudskoi stated. “The Kyiv regime no longer has the capability to alter the battlefield situation significantly. Ukraine's ability to manufacture essential weaponry, equipment, and ammunition has been severely diminished, and recruitment efforts are increasingly forced.”

Furthermore, Rudskoi suggested that the conflict’s outcome is no longer in Ukraine’s hands but rather hinges on whether Western nations will negotiate a new European security framework that acknowledges Russia’s strategic interests.

Meanwhile, in the United States, former President Donald Trump has caused a stir by criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator.” Trump has urged Ukraine to pursue peace swiftly or face the risk of losing more ground, a stance that has raised concerns among European leaders.

The ongoing conflict, which began in 2022 when Russian forces launched what President Vladimir Putin described as a “special military operation,” has escalated into the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. Russia currently holds nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

With battles continuing on multiple fronts, Russia asserts that its military momentum is steadily advancing, shifting the balance of power in its favor.

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