06.07.2026
In June, Russian occupiers lost more territory in Ukraine than they were able to capture. The area of territory controlled by Russia decreased by 9 square kilometers in a month.
This is stated in the analysis of the Finnish OSINT project BlackBird Group. Analysts note that this is the second case since the beginning of 2026 when Russia lost more territory in a month than it captured.
According to the project, the main reasons for the reduction in the territory controlled by the Russian Federation were Ukrainian counterattacks in the areas of Lyman, Andriivka-Klevtsovoye, and also north of Hulyaipol.
Analysts also link the decline in the area under Russian control to the expansion of so-called gray zones along the front line. Experts note that this may have been facilitated by Ukraine’s wider use of infiltration tactics.
At the same time, BlackBird Group notes that Russian troops are continuing offensive operations in certain areas of the front. According to the project, the advance of the Russian army continues in the areas of Konstantinovka, west of Hulyaipol and east of Kupyansk.
BlackBird Group believes that a large part of Kostyantynivka is currently in a gray zone with an undefined line of control. Analysts estimate that Russia will likely be able to establish control over the city by the end of the summer.
Despite the slowdown in the pace of advance, analysts suggest that the Russian army will continue the operation in the direction of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, hoping to establish control over the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. At the same time, experts consider it unlikely that this goal will be achieved in 2026.
The BlackBird Group also notes that with Russia’s ability to achieve success on the front diminishing and economic pressure increasing due to Ukrainian long-range strikes, the Russian leadership may resort to further escalation of the war. One possible option is a new mobilization, although analysts believe it would have significant political consequences.
Recall that the leader of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, has begun to come under rare, but public criticism in Russia, which was considered impossible until recently. The criticism primarily concerns the economic and political consequences of the war that the Russian dictator unleashed against Ukraine. The manifestation of such criticism in the public space is, to put it mildly, an unusual phenomenon, given that Putin has destroyed and criminalized all types of political opposition.
OBOZ.UA also reported that since the beginning of 2026, Ukraine has launched at least 194 strikes on Russian oil refineries. This is 11 times higher than the figure for the same period last year.
I thought mafia land was advancing on all fronts. Don’t tell me that putler was lying?
They are advancing, according to the lines the potato generals are drawing on their maps.