Ukraine war briefing: Russian army records almost no territorial gains for first time since 2023, analysis shows | Russia

For the first time in two and a half years, the Russian army recorded almost no territorial gains on the front line in Ukraine in MarchAccording to analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) conducted by Agence France-Presse. The Russian army’s advance has been slowing since late 2025 due to Kiev’s territorial advances in the south-east of the country. According to the analysis, the Russian army captured only 23 square kilometers (8.9 square miles) of territory across the entire front line in March and lost territory in some areas. This figure does not include infiltration operations carried out by Russian forces beyond the front line, as well as advances claimed by the Russian side but neither confirmed nor denied by the ISW.

The Russian army advanced 319 square kilometers in January and 123 square kilometers in February; this was the smallest advance since April 2024. The progress in March was the smallest since September 2023. ISW attributed the slowdown to Ukrainian counterattacks, but also to “Russia’s ban on using Starlink terminals in Ukraine” and “the Kremlin’s efforts to restrict access to Telegram.”. The messaging application, which is very popular among Russians, including those fighting on the front lines, has been almost unusable in recent months due to restrictions imposed by the authorities. As in February, Russia lost territory in the southern part of the front line between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Russia killed 14 people in Ukraine on Friday, officials said, as Moscow launched the latest in a growing series of daytime bombardments.. Moscow has been launching air strikes on Ukraine mostly at night throughout its more than four-year occupation, but has stepped up daytime attacks in recent weeks. The Russian military used more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles in its salvo on Friday, according to the Ukrainian air force.

Russia’s Baltic oil export hubs in Ust-Luga and Primorsk are unable to handle shipments following a series of Ukrainian drone attacks, prompting the country’s refineries to find alternative routes for exportsIndustry sources said on Friday. The attacks damaged port infrastructure and continued in the last two weeks of March; There were at least five attacks on Ust-Luga in 10 days. Export restrictions, as well as disruptions at major refineries, could lead to a decline in oil production in Russia, sources said. Refineries have been unable to deliver diesel fuel for export to Primorsk since March 22, leaving refineries in European Russia and Siberia without the most suitable export route, traders said. Refiners have been forced to consider more expensive rail transportation routes to other export terminals, traders said.

Zelenskyy called on lawmakers to pass important legislation next week to avert funding crisisHelp Ukraine fight against Russia and implement the fundamental reforms needed to join the EU. Economists said Ukraine missed a deadline to recover billions of dollars from key credit providers in late 2025 and early this year because of delayed reforms and a slow legislative process. The budget situation is desperate, with external financing needs this year standing at $52 billion (about a quarter of annual economic output). “There is a list of important bills that are critical to securing financing,” Ukraine’s president said Friday. These range from strengthening the court system to reforming energy sector procedures. Zelenskyy, who has a majority in the parliament but whose relations with his government have deteriorated, said, “I believe that MPs from all parties should understand the importance of these bills for the Ukrainian budget.”