Ukraine may have gained the upper hand in April, recapturing 116 square kilometers (45 square miles) of territory, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This net gain contrasts with Russian advances, which have slowed significantly.

The ISW reported that Russian forces seized an average of 2.9 sq km per day in early 2026, down from 9.76 sq km in the same period in 2025. The rate of advance has slowed by at least two-thirds over the past 18 months. The think tank noted that Russian infiltration tactics aim to create a false perception of continuous advances.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that 35,203 Russian soldiers were killed or seriously wounded in April, marking the fifth consecutive month that casualties exceeded recruitment. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited Russian documents showing 62% of casualties are deaths, a higher rate than previously assumed.

Ukraine has intensified mid-range strikes on Russian rear areas. In April, strikes over 20 km doubled compared to March and quadrupled compared to February. Targets included refineries and oil facilities, such as the Tuapse refinery and the Perm refinery, as well as naval assets in the Black and Baltic Seas.

Despite Ukrainian strikes, Russian oil revenues surged in April due to high global prices. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov reported mineral extraction revenues doubled to $12 billion, with oil contributing $10 billion. However, Bloomberg noted refinery output dropped to its lowest since 2009, suggesting damage is taking a toll.

Ukraine made diplomatic progress with EU members Hungary and Slovakia. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was invited to Kyiv, and Hungary returned $82 million in assets seized under former PM Viktor Orban. However, a poll shows 54% of Hungarians still oppose Ukraine's EU accession.

Source: www.aljazeera.com