Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
How will the Russian military command spin that?
On May 14, the Russian state-owned news agency TASS cited Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu as saying that Russian forces are “confidently advancing along the entire line of combat contact” in Ukraine.
That assessment is in stark contrast to reality on the battlefield, as the Institute for the Study of War reported in early May that Russian territorial gains in Ukraine have been in steep decline in 2026.
In January, Putin’s forces reportedly advanced and took control of 318 km², but in February those advances had plummeted to just under 123 km².
March produced Russian advances of only 23 km², and April really turned the tables as Ukraine managed to retake approximately 116 km² from Russian forces.
Add to that Russian casualties of reportedly more than 35,000 a month, and it is clear the the Russian forces are struggling in Ukraine.
And now, the Russian battlefield commanders will have to give an update to Shoigu, that they really don’t want to.
Reclaiming lost ground
Ukrainian troops successfully cleared out entrenched positions to reclaim a village in the Kharkiv region. The military confirmed the liberation of the village of Odradne.
The advance relied on heavy machinery and eyes in the sky. According to a statement released on May 15 by the 129th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, mechanized infantry worked alongside drone and artillery units.
Together, they systematically rooted out opposing forces. Soldiers pushed through thick forest belts and breached heavily fortified defensive lines surrounding the settlement.
Drones played a crucial role in spotting hidden targets. With aerial operators guiding the artillery fire, ground teams easily dismantled shelters and active firing spots.
The reports have not been independently verified, and the Kremlin has not yet reacted to the information.
A shifting tide
The scale of the victory became clear shortly after the dust settled. The 16th Army Corps confirmed the successful operation, noting that troops managed to recover about 22 square kilometers of land.
Taking back that territory came with a heavy cost for the defending side. Military officials reported the elimination of 56 Russian soldiers during the intense and coordinated assault.
Action is also heating up further south. Ukrainian forces recently counterattacked near the village of Charivne, located in the Zaporizhzhia region, using localized operations.
Meanwhile, Russian units have struggled to gain ground. Reports indicate they have failed to secure any fresh advances along the broader southern front over the past few weeks.
Sources: 129th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, 16th Army Corps, The Institute for the Study of War, TASS, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, United24 Media, The New Voice of Ukraine
