Ukraine records first territorial gains since 2023 amid Russian army woes

Al JazeeraEN 5 min read 100% complete by Mansur MirovalevMarch 11, 2026 at 01:00 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

In March 2026, Ukraine began reclaiming territory from Russia for the first time since 2023, liberating areas in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions. According to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, these gains, totaling 460 sq km, are due to heavy Russian losses, estimated at up to 35,000 soldiers per month. A US think tank, ISW, estimates more modest gains of 257 sq km. Ukrainian officials report nearly complete liberation of the Dnipropetrovsk region and the recapture of nine towns in Zaporizhia. Meanwhile, a children's hospital in Russian-occupied Donetsk was damaged by shelling, with Russian-installed authorities blaming Ukraine. Despite these Ukrainian advances, Russia continues its offensive in the Donetsk region.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Zaporizhia 50% Dnipropetrovsk ×260% Russia ×670% Volodymyr Zelenskyy ×480% Ukraine ×490%

Keywords

russia-ukraine war 100% territorial gains 90% ukrainian counterattacks 80% dnipropetrovsk 70% military losses 70% front line 60% zaporizhia 60% kyiv 50% russian offensive 50% donetsk 40%