Ukraine makes fastest gains in years as Russia talks stall, exploiting cracks in Kremlin command

As U.S.-backed negotiations betwixt Russia and Ukraine successful Geneva ended without a breakthrough, Kyiv made gains connected the battlefield, recapturing territory astatine its fastest gait successful years done localized counterattacks on the southeastern front.

The advances travel arsenic analysts constituent to disruptions successful Russian battlefield communications and shifting operational dynamics, developments that could fortify Ukraine’s leverage adjacent arsenic talks stay stalled.

Ukrainian forces retook astir 78 quadrate miles implicit 5 days, according to a study by Agence France-Presse based connected an investigation of the Institute for the Study of War battlefield mapping. The gains correspond Kyiv’s astir accelerated territorial advances since its 2023 counteroffensive successful the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, USAF (Ret.), said Ukraine’s battlefield show should not beryllium underestimated arsenic the warfare drags on. "As this warfare grinds on, the satellite excessively often forgets that Ukraine’s determination, innovation and motivation clarity are unit multipliers. Its quality to support against a larger, better-resourced force should ne'er beryllium counted out," Newton told Fox News Digital. "There are increasing signs that Russia’s expected invincibility is nary longer a harmless assumption, peculiarly arsenic unit increases connected the Kremlin and its partners."

UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK

Ukrainian soldiers from the 115th Brigade Mortar Unit behaviour mortar training, arsenic members of the Anti-UAV portion trial an FPV drone inhibitor successful Lyman, Ukraine. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The warring has centered eastbound of Zaporizhzhia, wherever Russian forces person steadily precocious since mid-2025. Open-source battlefield monitoring and mapping bespeak Ukrainian troops pushed guardant astir Huliaipole and adjacent settlements, though analysts caution the beforehand remains fluid, and immoderate areas are not afloat secured, The Telegraph reported.

The Institute for the Study of War assessed successful mid-February that the counterattacks look to beryllium exploiting disruptions successful Russian command-and-control. ISW said Ukrainian forces are apt leveraging limits affecting Russian battlefield communications, including reported restrictions tied to the usage of Starlink outer terminals and messaging platforms cited successful open-source reporting.

Service members of the onslaught UAV platoon of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces power an FPV drone with optical fibre guidance with a parcel containing items attached for transportation to their brothers-in-arms astatine a presumption successful the frontline municipality of Kostiantynivka amid Russia’s onslaught connected Ukraine. Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, connected Feb. 17, 2026. (Iryna Rybakova/Press Service of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Reuters)

Analysts accidental reduced connectivity tin make abbreviated windows for Ukrainian units to determination done contested zones that are typically dominated by drone surveillance and physics warfare. ISW and different observers stress that specified opportunities are impermanent and bash not awesome a broader illness successful Russian defenses.

The evolving combat is besides shaped by the increasing relation of drones. In a Feb. 10 peculiar report, ISW said Russia’s expanding usage of first-person-view drones reflects a run to "weaponize and institutionalize intentional civilian harm arsenic a purposeful instrumentality of war," informing the maneuver is becoming embedded successful operational doctrine and could power aboriginal conflicts.

UKRAINE STRIKES MAJOR RUSSIAN AMMO DEPOT WITH ‘FLAMINGO’ MISSILE AS TRUMP URGES ZELENSKYY TO MOVE ON DEAL

Ukraine fires six FP-5 Flamingo missiles successful a nighttime onslaught connected Russia’s 117th GRAU arsenal. Kotluban, Volgograd Region. (East2west)

Despite the caller gains, analysts caution against viewing the developments arsenic a decisive displacement successful the war. Newton argued that sustained Western subject enactment remains essential. "Putin responds to force," helium said. "The United States and Europe should proceed providing Ukraine with some antiaircraft and violative capabilities, including long-range systems susceptible of striking heavy wrong Russia."

Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, USN (Ret.), said battlefield gains are progressively tied to diplomacy. "Both sides are trying to usage battlefield advances to fortify their presumption astatine the negotiating table," Harward said. "It’s a motion neither broadside is acceptable to onslaught a woody yet."

Harward pointed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s stated willingness to clasp elections pursuing a ceasefire arsenic grounds Kyiv is signaling flexibility, portion Moscow continues to property its demands. "If a lasting and just diplomatic statement is achievable, the existent U.S. squad is well-positioned to assistance present it," helium said. "But negotiations indispensable beryllium paired with sustained unit connected Russia and its partners."

Russia releases drone footage of an alleged Ukraine onslaught connected Putin residence. (Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS )

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Nearly 2 years aft Ukraine’s past large violative stalled, the warfare remains defined by incremental territorial changes alternatively than sweeping breakthroughs. Both sides proceed to trust heavy connected drones, artillery and physics warfare, with beforehand lines shifting colony by village.

"As U.S.-led talks continue, it is captious to summation unit connected Putin to extremity the warfare connected presumption that reconstruct deterrence and forestall further aggression," Newton said.