Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country’s defense forces have successfully regained control of approximately 435 square kilometers of territory in the southern region. This statement was made during a joint press briefing with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in Kyiv.
Zelensky highlighted that over the past six weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have executed significant defensive and offensive operations aimed at disrupting Russian military plans. He noted that the situation at the front remains challenging, but there is a more optimistic outlook compared to late 2025.
The president remarked that the actions of Ukrainian troops have thwarted Russian strategies in the area. Despite this progress, he acknowledged that Russian objectives for a spring offensive remain unchanged, with a continued focus on seizing eastern Ukraine, particularly the Donbas region.
“The main targets are the eastern parts of our country, specifically the capture of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Their plans have not altered, but delays are occurring because they are unable to achieve their goals with the current resources and forces available to them, compounded by the actions of our Armed Forces,” Zelensky stated.
On March 4, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces have liberated more territory than they have lost for the first time since the summer counteroffensive of 2023, during the last two weeks of February 2026.
In an interview with the Italian publication Corriere Della Sera on March 3, Zelensky mentioned that Ukrainian forces have reclaimed 460 square kilometers of land since the beginning of the year. He emphasized that Ukraine is not losing the war and is open to dialogue, seeking peace.
Reports from the DeepState project indicate that Ukrainian forces have made advances in the Oleksandrivka direction, pushing back Russian troops near Zlahoda, Novohryhorivka, Novomykolaivka, Stepne, and Ternove, which are located at the junction of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Ukrainian forces have regained control of 435 square kilometers in the south, according to President Zelensky. Despite ongoing challenges, recent military actions have disrupted Russian plans, with a focus on eastern Ukraine remaining unchanged.