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The Russian advances are already near zero – but Ukraine is not taking any chances.
In an analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published on March 31, 2026, the think tank notes that Russian territorial gains in Ukraine have ground to near zero.
According to figures from ISW, Russian forces only managed to gain 5.45 km² in March 2026, compared to 152.4 km² in February and 363.3 km² in January.
Of course, the development varies between different parts of the front line, but now Ukraine is preparing a new level of defensive measures to hold off any Russian advances in northern Ukraine.
Building a barrier
Military engineers are currently working around the clock to create an unbroken wall of physical defence across the northern reaches of Ukraine.
Vasyl Syrotenko, the senior commander in charge of these critical engineering units, told Ukrinform that the timeline for completion is tight, and that the line is specifically designed to tightly seal off the fragile national border shared with both Russia and neighbouring Belarus.
This massive new defensive barrier will span all the way from the Kyiv Reservoir right across the map to the city of Sumy.
Stopping the push
“We are dedicating significant forces and resources to ensure this line is built in the shortest possible time,” Syrotenko explained to the outlet
The primary strategy behind these vast earthworks is to completely block opposing forces from carving out a contested buffer zone.
According to the engineering chief’s statements to Ukrinform, the fresh fortifications will help keep local troops firmly planted in their critical defensive spots.
In the earlier days of the conflict, construction crews mainly focused their digging efforts right on the most active fighting lines.
Layers of safety
This latest nationwide initiative is taking a very different approach by stretching the safety measures far back into the country.
Rather than stopping just a few kilometres from the active danger zone, the reinforced trenches now reach up to 100 kilometres inland.
This creates a deeply layered web of security that makes any sudden enemy advance incredibly difficult to sustain over time.
Military planners have also had to rapidly adapt their earthwork designs to counter modern technological threats constantly buzzing overhead.
New modern threats
The freshly dug defensive lines now include highly specialised measures designed to defeat new fiber-optic guided FPV drones.
These agile and remote-controlled flying devices have quickly become one of the most dangerous and unpredictable elements on the modern battlefield.
Fortunately, the dedicated engineering teams have managed to find a rare window of opportunity to get this crucial work done.
Independent OSINT researchers reported that recent Russian struggles on the front lines gave Ukrainian forces the breathing room needed to expand these barriers.
Sources: Ukrinform, United24Media, Institute for the Study of War
