Russian Forces Capture Nearly 4,000 Square Kilometers in Ukraine in 2024, Focus on Donetsk and Kursk

Dec 31, 2024, 11:49 AM

In 2024, Russian forces advanced significantly in Ukraine, capturing approximately 3,985 square kilometers of territory, nearly seven times more than the 584 square kilometers taken in 2023. This advancement was primarily fueled by an acceleration of Russian movements in the fall of 2024, with troops gaining 610 square kilometers in October and 725 square kilometers in November. These two months marked the largest territorial gains since the early stages of the conflict in March 2022. By December, the Russian advance slowed to 465 square kilometers in the first 30 days of the month, yet this was still four times greater than the same period in 2023 and two and a half times greater than December 2022. The majority of the territory seized by Russia in 2024 was in the Donetsk region, where the city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for the Ukrainian army, is located. Russia now controls or operates in 70% of this region, up from 59% at the end of 2023. The year also saw a major Ukrainian offensive in Russia's Kursk region starting in July, with Ukrainian forces claiming to have advanced about 1,320 square kilometers by August 20-21, though this area was reduced to 482 square kilometers by December 30.