Russian forces occupied only 14 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in May, marking the worst result for the Russian army since October 2023. This was reported by analysts from DeepState.
According to the project, May became the first month in recent years since Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive in which Russia’s net gain of occupied territory was negative. DeepState noted that, for security reasons, some advances by Ukraine’s Defense Forces are reflected on the map with a delay.
The analysts also highlighted a sharp increase in the number of assault operations conducted by Russian forces. In May, their number rose by 37.5%, exceeding 7,000 attacks and setting a new record.
Despite this, the Russian army achieved few significant results. DeepState attributes this to a deterioration in the enemy’s tactical performance. According to the analysts, Russian troops are increasingly carrying out assaults in very small groups or even individually.
The use of infiltration groups also remains a trend, but Ukrainian forces have significantly improved their response to such incursions. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for Russian units to establish positions in newly reached areas.
At the same time, the analysts stressed that the situation around Kostiantynivka remains difficult. According to DeepState’s assessment, the outlook for the city remains unfavorable.
The project also positively assessed personnel changes within Ukraine’s military leadership, highlighting the appointment of a new Minister of Defense and a new commander of the “East” operational group, as well as the promotion of new commanders to key positions.
