Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga said that the figures on developments at the front show that Russia “is not winning and will not win” the war against Ukraine.
This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“According to open sources, the overall balance between territories occupied by Russia and those liberated by Ukraine in August 2026 was approximately +5 square kilometres. This figure is relative, but the trend is clear. Meanwhile, Russia lost at least 42,000 occupiers killed and wounded – one of the highest monthly loss figures of the entire war,” Sybiga noted.
He added that in August 2026, in response to Russian attacks, a record 70 successful Ukrainian long-range strikes were carried out against legitimate military targets in Russia, five more than in July.
The head of the Foreign Ministry also said that in the first eight months of 2026, Russia’s average rate of advance was 3.5 times slower than in 2025. This year, Russia occupied less than 0.2% of additional Ukrainian territory.
“Even in Donbas, where Russian forces concentrate most of their efforts, Russia has failed to achieve an operational breakthrough. The Russian Federation still does not control roughly 20% of Donetsk Oblast. At the current pace, Russian occupiers would need more than two years to seize this territory. Whatever falsified maps Russian generals show Putin, the reality on the battlefield proves that he is not winning and will not win this war,” Sybiga stressed.
“Given the situation in the Russian economy and the Russian Federation’s inability to withstand Ukraine’s long-range strikes, things will only get worse for Russia. Yes, it is also very hard for Ukraine. For our soldiers, frontline communities and our entire country. The full-scale war, which Ukraine did not choose, is now in its fifth year. Every family has been scarred by it in one way or another. But Moscow is certainly not in a position of strength. And certainly not in a position to dictate terms,” the head of the Foreign Ministry added.