ISW: Russia Faces First Territorial Reversal as Frontline Momentum Slows
ISW reports Russian forces lost about 116 square kilometers in April 2026, the first net territorial loss since the 2024 invasion, with momentum slowing as Ukrainian counterattacks, mid-range strikes, and logistical constraints bite; gains from late 2025 to April 2026 fell far short of the year-ago period, and Moscow increasingly relies on infiltration tactics rather than holding territory, while seasonal mud and air campaign strains compound battlefield constraints.