Russian forces advanced by nearly 4,000 sq. km in Ukraine in 2024, which is almost seven times more than last year, Agence France-Presse reported today, citing data from the American Institute for the Study of War (IWW), BTA reports.
This is mainly due to the accelerated movement of Russian troops in the fall. In October, they advanced by 610 sq. km, and in November - by 725 sq. km, which is comparable only to March 2022. and the first weeks of the conflict.
In December, the Russian offensive slowed, reaching 465 sq km in the first 30 days of the month. However, the progress is greater than in the same month of the previous two years.
Almost three-quarters of the territory captured by the Russians in Ukraine in 2024 was in Donetsk region, where the city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics center for the Ukrainian army, is located. Russia now controls or operates in 70% of the region's territory, compared with 59% at the end of 2023, AFP notes.
This year there was also a large-scale Ukrainian offensive in Russia's Kursk region, which began in July. On August 20 and 21, the declared Ukrainian offensives reached a peak, covering about 1,320 sq km. Since then, however, the territory controlled by Ukraine in the Russian region has been reduced to 482 sq. km.
Today, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had shot down six of a total of 21 missiles launched by Russia overnight. Russia used 40 drones to attack the country, with Ukrainian air defenses shooting down 16 of them, while another 24 failed to reach their targets, Reuters reported.
Ukraine has intercepted one Russian "Dagger" missile, five Kh-69 guided missiles and 16 drones. In addition, 24 drones were diverted from their course and failed to reach their targets, Ukrinform added.
Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Ministry announced that Rome is allocating 13 million euros to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine. "At a time when attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are intensifying, this decision represents an important step in efforts to restore energy systems damaged by the conflict. Italy's contribution will help stabilize electricity supplies for millions of war-affected Ukrainians at this difficult time," the ministry said in a statement.