Russian military forces did not achieve any territorial gains in Ukraine during March, according to an April 3 analysis based on data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This marks the first time since September 2023 that Russian troops have failed to advance along the front lines and even lost ground in some areas.
The lack of progress comes amid ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensives and a general military stalemate. Analysts say that Russian advances have been slowing since late 2025, as Ukrainian operations continue to restrict their movement. The ISW attributes this slowdown not only to Ukrainian military pressure but also to technological and logistical factors, including restrictions on Starlink satellite terminals and limited access to the Telegram application widely used by Russian troops at the front.
During March, Ukrainian forces reportedly reclaimed at least nine square kilometers of territory. In contrast, Russian troops advanced only about 123 square kilometers in February—their smallest monthly gain since April 2024. In southern regions between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, Russia’s controlled area shrank from more than 400 square kilometers at the end of January to just 144 square kilometers by March.
Despite these setbacks for Russia, challenges remain for Ukraine in Donetsk region where Russian forces continue pressing toward key cities such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. More than four years into the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Moscow controls just over nineteen percent of Ukrainian territory—most of which was occupied during earlier stages of fighting.
Observers note that while recent trends suggest a shift in momentum away from Russia’s favor on certain fronts, both sides face significant obstacles as hostilities persist.
