Russia’s armed forces are aiming to capture the remaining 20 percent of Ukraine’s partially occupied eastern Donetsk region by the end of the year, having – according to Kyiv – failed to meet 14 previous deadlines.At Russia’s current rate of advance, President Vladimir Putin’s forces will need 5,150 days, or 14 years, to complete the task – in addition to the 12 years Russian-aligned forces have already been fighting to seize Donetsk from Kyiv’s control.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe Institute for the Study of War says that’s because Russian territorial gains have collapsed this year even as casualties have risen, according to the Washington-based think tank, which uses geolocated, open-source information to estimate territorial control.Russian forces seized 2,190 square kilometres (845 square miles) of Ukraine in the first six months of 2025, compared with 622 sq km (240 sq miles) so far this year, the ISW said. (Al Jazeera)That translates to a rate of advance of 1.03 sq km (0.39 sq miles) a day this year versus 16.6 sq km (6.4 sq miles) a day in the first six months of 2025.Those figures worsen dramatically if Russian infiltrations, which do not amount to firm control of territory, are removed from the equation and Ukrainian counter-advances are included.In that case, Russia’s net gain in the first half of 2026 is just 97 sq km (37 sq miles), according to ISW figures.“If Putin wants to send another million of his soldiers to keep fighting against this wall, then these million Russians, who have no …
