Russia has made tactical gains, but every meter of Ukrainian land is being taken at the cost of heavy personnel losses, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s General Staff said.
Dmytro Lykhovyi told Interfax-Ukraine that Moscow is significantly overstating the amount of territory it has seized in Ukraine, noting that in the first 15 days of 2026 it has lost more than 14,000 troops killed and wounded.
“Lacking meaningful success on the battlefield, Russia’s Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov cited a figure for square kilometers captured since the start of January that is twice the real number. He likewise doubled the size of territory occupied by the Russians during 2025,” Lykhovyi said.
He added that while Russia has achieved tactical advances, it is paying a steep price for every meter of ground. According to Lykhovyi, Russia has already lost 14,120 troops killed and wounded in the first half of January 2026.
Ukrainian units are also conducting counteroffensive actions, he said, adding that in 2025 Ukrainian forces liberated about 300 square kilometers of territory.
Lykhovyi said that “no matter how hard it gets, Kyiv and Ukraine will endure.”
“Gerasimov can report any numbers to his dictator, trying to influence Ukraine’s Western partners as well. But this is definitely not a case where ‘talk will get you to Kyiv,’” he added.
Earlier reporting estimated that over the whole of 2025, Russia occupied 4,336 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory - roughly 0.72% of the country.
