Ukraine recaptured 201 square kilometres (78 square miles) of territory from Russia between Wednesday and Sunday last week, capitalising on a Starlink shutdown affecting Russian forces, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The area regained is almost equivalent to Russia’s total territorial gains for the whole of December and marks the largest amount of land retaken by Kyiv’s forces in such a short period since a counter-offensive in June 2023.
The 201 square kilometres comprise areas that Kyiv and military analysts say were under Russian control (72 square kilometres), as well as territory claimed by Moscow’s forces (129 square kilometres).
“These Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian forces’ access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers have claimed is causing communications and command-and-control issues on the battlefield,” the ISW said. The institute works in collaboration with the Critical Threats Project, another US-based think tank.
On 5 February, military observers reported disruption to Starlink antennas used by Moscow’s troops along the front line, following announcements by Elon Musk of “measures” aimed at ending the Kremlin’s use of the technology.
Kyiv alleged that Russian drones had been using the system in particular to bypass electronic jamming and carry out precision strikes.
Without access to Starlink, Russian forces advanced only on 9 February, while Kyiv made gains on the other days.
The recaptured territory is concentrated roughly 80 kilometres east of the city of Zaporizhzhia, an area where Russian troops have made notable advances since the summer of 2025.
By mid-February, Moscow controlled 19.5 per cent of Ukrainian territory, either fully or partially, compared with 18.6 per cent a year earlier.
Around 7 per cent—including Crimea and parts of the Donbas—had already been under Russian control prior to the invasion launched in February 2022.
