Russian progress in Ukraine slows down - ISW names reasons
The Ukrainian Armed Forces slow down Russia's offensive progress (photo: twitter.com/GeneralStaffUA)
Russian advances in Ukraine have been slowing each month since November 2024. This is partly due to successful local counterattacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on April 7.
The article by American analysts includes a recent assessment by British intelligence, stating that Russian forces advanced 143 square kilometers into Ukrainian territory in March 2025 during successful tactical counterattacks by Ukrainian troops in the Pokrovsk direction.
As reported by the UK Ministry of Defence on April 5, the pace of Russian advances in Ukraine has been decreasing each month since November 2024.
- Russian forces occupied approximately 730 square kilometers in November 2024;
- 393 square kilometers in December 2024;
- 326 square kilometers in January 2025;
- 195 square kilometers in February 2025.
ISW experts, who analyzed geolocation footage, agree with the assessment that the monthly pace of the Russian army's advances in Ukraine has slowed since November 2024.
"ISW has observed geolocated evidence to assess that Russian forces in Ukraine gained roughly 627 square kilometers in November 2024, 569 square kilometers in December 2024, 427 square kilometers in January 2025, 354 square kilometers in February 2025, and 203 square kilometers in March 2025," the report states.
Institute specialists suggest that the UK Ministry of Defence is likely using a different methodology or sources to assess Russian advances in Ukraine, but the UK Ministry of Defence report aligns with ISW data on the decrease in Russia's monthly advances from November 2024 to March 2025.
In recent weeks, Ukraine's Defence Forces have carried out localized counterattacks in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions, regaining lost positions in these areas and contributing to the slowdown of enemy advances, experts note.
Recently, ISW experts reported that Russia is launching large-scale attacks on several frontlines in Ukraine, aiming to influence ceasefire and negotiation terms with a spring and summer offensive. However, analysts do not believe the Kremlin will achieve significant success.
About two weeks ago, Oleksii Maliariev, a representative of the 429th separate drone regiment Achilles, mentioned that Ukrainian forces liberated parts of the territories near Dvorichna in the Kharkiv region in March.
On March 23, the Third Assault Brigade reported the liberation of the village of Nadiia in the Svatove district of the Luhansk region from occupation.
Additionally, in November of last year, Institute for the Study of War experts noted that Ukrainian drones are complicating Russian advances and will play a crucial role in winning the war.
