Russia Makes Largest Territorial Gains Since 2022 as Kyiv Hosts International Security Talks

Russia achieved its biggest annual territorial advance in Ukraine since the first year of the full-scale invasion, an AFP analysis found, while Kyiv prepared to host security advisers from allied countries amid continuing Russian strikes.

Diplomatic Push in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 15 countries would attend the Kyiv meetings in person, with representatives from the European Union and NATO also present and a United States delegation joining by video link. The talks precede a summit of leaders from a so-called coalition of the willing planned for next week in France and form part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war.

Territorial Gains and Analysis

Analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), working with the Critical Threats Project, found that Russian forces captured more than 5,600 square kilometres (about 2,160 square miles) of Ukrainian territory in 2025 — roughly one percent of Ukraine's land area. Those gains exceed the territory taken in the previous two years combined but remain far short of the more than 60,000 square kilometres seized in 2022, the first year of Russia's all-out invasion.

Civilian Impact and Frontline Evacuations

Moscow has maintained heavy aerial and missile attacks on Ukrainian population centres. A recent strike on a residential district of Kharkiv reduced parts of multi-storey buildings to smouldering rubble. Local officials said a three-year-old child was killed and at least 19 people were wounded; AFP images showed firefighters and rescuers at the scene. The Russian Defence Ministry denied planning or carrying out missile or air strikes within Kharkiv city limits.

Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 3,000 children and their parents from 44 frontline settlements in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where Russian forces have been advancing. Ukrainian Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said more than 150,000 people have been evacuated from frontline areas since June 1.

Separately, Russia accused Kyiv of striking a hotel and a café in occupied southern Ukraine, saying the attack killed 28 people and warning of "consequences." Ukraine denied targeting civilians and said the strike hit a military gathering closed to civilians. AFP was unable to independently verify either account.

Political and Leadership Changes

President Zelensky named military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as his new top aide after his previous chief of staff resigned in November amid a corruption probe. Budanov is widely credited in Ukraine with leading high-profile intelligence operations. When formally appointed, he will replace Andriy Yermak, who stepped down after investigators raided his home.

Zelensky also signalled he wants to replace Defence Minister Denys Shymhal, appointed six months earlier, with 34-year-old Mykhailo Fedorov, the current minister of digital transformation. Zelensky said Fedorov has strong experience in drones and digitalisation of state services.

Background

Russia launched its February 2022 invasion, calling it a "special military operation" aimed at preventing NATO expansion — a rationale Kyiv rejects. Since then, Moscow has captured large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine and has continued frequent drone and missile attacks against towns and cities.

Note: All figures and claims are based on AFP reporting and analysis of ISW data; some battlefield and strike accounts remain contested and could not be independently verified by AFP.