Ukraine freed more territory than it lost in February for the first time in three years
Ukrainian defenders achieved a significant success in the last two weeks of February 2026, liberating more territory than was lost during enemy attacks. This marks the first instance of a positive territorial balance for Ukraine since the conclusion of the summer counteroffensive in 2023.
According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, the net gain of liberated land from 14 to 20 February was nearly 33 square kilometres.
The following week, from 21 to 27 February, the pace of advancement increased, allowing Ukraine to regain control of approximately 57 additional square kilometres.
Similar dynamics were last observed during the active phase of operations in 2023. “At that time, in June they liberated 377 square kilometres, in July — 257 square kilometres, and 1.47 square kilometres in September,” the experts noted in their report.
It is worth noting that official figures from Kyiv are even more optimistic than estimates from international observers. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian troops have already regained 460 square kilometres of territory.
The discrepancy in figures is explained by ISW’s conservative methodology, which only records gains after obtaining indisputable evidence from open sources. Analysts acknowledge that their maps may underestimate the real progress of the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to the difficulty of monitoring along a complex front line.
Despite significant gains, experts caution against excessive expectations of an immediate large-scale strategic offensive. Russian occupation forces are likely attempting to stabilise their defensive lines and prepare for new attempts to retake lost positions.
However, successful local operations by Ukrainian forces have already substantially changed the operational situation in the theatre of operations. “Ukraine’s recent battlefield successes have disrupted Russia’s plans to create conditions for a spring–summer 2026 offensive,” the Institute for the Study of War emphasised.
As a reminder, Ukrainian forces eliminated another 980 Russian troops and 32 artillery systems in a single day.
They also repelled more than 140 attacks by Russian forces over the same period.
