Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ukraine makes major battlefield advance after Russia loses Starlink access

Ukraine neutralises North Korean 'Koksan' artillery after detecting heat signature
  • Ukrainian soldiers have made significant battlefield gains on the eastern frontlines, recapturing 78 square miles from Russian troops between Wednesday and Sunday.
  • These advances are linked to Russian forces losing access to the Starlink satellite internet service.
  • The Institute for the Study of War reported that the territory retaken by Ukraine equals all Russian gains made throughout December.
  • This represents the most land regained by Kyiv's forces in such a short period since the June 2023 counteroffensive, reversing weeks of Russian advances east of Zaporizhzhia.
  • The gains come ahead of US-mediated peace talks in Geneva, where discussions are expected to focus on land, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede the remaining 20% of eastern Donetsk.
In full

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in