Russia’s land gains in Ukraine dwindle as its diesel reportedly goes unsold
Russia's battlefield advances in Ukraine have dwindled to almost nothing this year, with the country struggling to sell diesel fuel on global markets despite diplomatic efforts.
Russia's battlefield advances in Ukraine have dwindled to almost nothing this year, according to figures from independent observers and Kyiv's military. The territory seized by Russian forces in the first 10 months of 2026 amounts to just 117.38 sq km, a dramatic decrease from 5,304 sq km in 2025 and 3,604 sq km in 2024.
This means Russia advanced at a rate of 0.38 sq km per day this year, compared with 13.25 sq km per day in 2025 and 9.9 sq km per day in 2024. The slowdown comes as Russia suffers higher casualties, with Ukraine's General Staff estimating 381,300 Russian personnel killed or seriously wounded from January to October.
Estimated Russian losses have repeatedly broken new monthly records for the entire war since the summer – 42,860 in July, 46,230 in September and 54,400 in October – as Ukraine's military sought to reach a monthly target of 50,000 casualties set by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in January.
Energy Infrastructure Targeted
Zelenskyy and his prime minister have cited these worsening trends as the reason for Russia's intensification of long-range strikes targeting energy infrastructure. Civilians have been killed in those attacks, leading Ukrainians to believe that Moscow is opting for psychological warfare.
Russia unleashed an unusually heavy barrage during the week ending on November 6, including 2,346 drones and more than 80 missiles across Ukraine. The strikes reached a crescendo on November 3, with 370 drones and 76 missiles, causing hundreds of thousands of families to struggle with blackouts at the beginning of winter.
The invaders knew that on Mondays, humanitarian aid was distributed at the Komyshuvakha resilience centre. Residents of the community come here for food, medicine, essential items.
In one of Russia's deadliest attacks this year, in the village of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region, at least 50 people were killed. The attack came on the day a six-day ceasefire ended in Oleshky, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, which enabled the evacuation of 800 residents from the besieged town.
Diesel Exports Fail
Ukraine has resumed almost daily targeting of Russian refineries during the past week, hitting eight in seven days. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed three refineries were hit on October 30, with additional strikes following on other facilities.
The strikes are designed to deprive Russia of energy and export revenue, scuppering a deal reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on October 9. Trump had invited Russia to sell 1.8 million tonnes of diesel to the global market by the end of the year to help bring down transport prices, despite US oil sanctions.
The Kremlin has reportedly pumped four tankers full of diesel fuel in hopes of selling it to the US, but these have failed to find buyers willing to risk the legal consequences. US Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the Lindsey Graham Act, warned a Greek shipping company not to attempt to offload its cargo in the US, stating that only Congress can make such transactions legally valid.
Related
