Ukraine recaptures 201 square kilometers in its fastest advance since 2023
In a significant development on the ground, the most notable in a long time, Ukrainian forces achieved a major breakthrough on the front lines, recapturing approximately 201 square kilometers from Russian forces. This advance, observed between Wednesday and Sunday of last week, represents a significant tactical shift in the course of the battles, which had recently been characterized by relative stalemate.
According to detailed military analysis conducted by Agence France-Presse based on data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), these field gains are classified as the fastest and largest for Kyiv since the counter-offensive it launched in June 2023. These developments almost equal the gains made by Russia during last December, indicating a new dynamic on the battlefield based on exploiting the technical and logistical gaps of the adversary.
Starlink outage disrupts Russian plans
Field reports indicate that the decisive factor in this Ukrainian advance was not merely conventional military, but decidedly technological. Kyiv cleverly exploited the disruption of the Russian forces' Starlink satellite internet service. The Institute for the Study of War, in collaboration with the US-based Critical Threats Project, explained that the Ukrainian counterattacks directly benefited from the recently imposed ban preventing Russian forces from using this system.
Russian military bloggers assert that the absence of the Starlink service has caused significant problems with communications and command and control on the front lines. On February 5th, observers noted the failure of the antennas that Moscow had been using to circumvent electronic jamming systems and precisely guide drones, following measures taken by Elon Musk, the service's founder, to end this unauthorized use by Russian forces.
Geographical context and size of reclaimed land
The majority of the territory recaptured by Ukraine is concentrated in the southeastern sector, specifically about 80 kilometers east of the city of Zaporizhzhia. This area holds particular strategic importance, as Russian forces had made significant advances there since the summer of 2015. The recapture of these areas has boosted the morale of Ukrainian forces and demonstrated their ability to launch successful offensive operations despite Russian fortifications.
Background of the conflict and current control ratios
To understand the significance of this event, one must look at the general context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which began in February 2022. Since then, the map has undergone continuous changes, with Russia already controlling about 7% of Ukrainian territory (the Crimean Peninsula and parts of Donbas) before the full-scale invasion.
In mid-February, the percentage of Ukrainian territory under Russian control (either wholly or partially) stood at approximately 19.5%, a slight increase from 18.6% a year earlier. This narrow margin reflects the nature of the ongoing "war of attrition," where fierce fighting is taking place for every square kilometer, making the recapture of 201 square kilometers in just a few days a significant military achievement in modern warfare.
