Russia Says Forces Gain 600–700 km² Monthly in Ukraine Advance

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said Moscow’s forces are now seizing about 600–700 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory each month, almost double the pace reported at the start of the year. Speaking in comments carried by Interfax, Belousov contrasted the current rate of advance with the 300–400 square kilometres captured monthly earlier in 2025. Belousov added that the Russian military has conducted 35 large-scale strikes this year on 146 "critically important" targets, claiming that 62% of Ukraine’s defence-industrial infrastructure has been damaged. He highlighted attacks aimed at curbing Kyiv’s production capacity and disrupting logistics centres and launch sites for long-range drones. Separately, Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces struck Ukrainian airfields and military-industrial sites overnight using drones and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, underscoring the continued focus on aviation and arms facilities. The battlefield assertions could not be independently verified.