The Armed Forces of Ukraine are seizing the initiative on the front

Ukrainian troops have achieved significant results, which have become most noticeable since the beginning of the operation in the Kursk region. According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Ukrainian Defense Forces are successfully conducting a series of counterattacks, forcing the Russian army to act at an imposed pace.

Syrskyi: the number of offensive actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of mid-May exceeds the activity of the Russian occupation forces.

Results of the Ukrainian strategy

  • More than 400 sq. km liberated in the south of the country in 2026.
  • Control returned over strategic areas near Kupiansk.
  • Advance in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region.

Strikes on Russian logistics and equipment have significantly impaired the enemy's ability to conduct offensive operations. The Unmanned Systems Forces play a special role: in the first 19 days of May alone, Ukrainian drones struck more than 19,000 Russian soldiers.

Crisis in the ranks of the Russian army

The Russian Ministry of Defense is facing a catastrophic shortage of personnel. In the first quarter of 2026, the rates of contract signings do not even cover basic losses, which threatens the occupiers' further plans.