Ukraine claims to have recaptured more than 600 square kilometers in 2026. Russian troops would withdraw from a strategic position on the Black Sea
After months of intense fighting and limited progress on the front, Ukraine claims it is beginning to regain ground against the Russian military. Kiev says it has reclaimed more than 600 square kilometers of territory since the start of the year, while sources close to the Ukrainian military say Moscow's troops are withdrawing from the Kinburn Peninsula, a strategic position on the Black Sea. If the information is confirmed, the development could represent one of the most important setbacks for Russia in recent months.
Kinburn Peninsula, a strategic position on the Black Sea/PHOTO:X
Ukrainian forces are claiming some of the most significant territorial gains in recent months, while sources close to Kiev say the Russian army is being forced to withdraw from a strategic position at the entrance to the Dnieper-Bug estuary near the Black Sea.
According to the Ates group, a resistance movement operating in the occupied territories and in Russia, Russian army units have reportedly begun to leave the Kinburn Peninsula, a strategically important strip of land south of the Mikolaiv region.
The group claims that the withdrawal was prompted by the intensification of drone attacks launched by Ukraine on Russian logistical positions and routes.
“Actions by Ukrainian special forces targeting supply lines forced occupiers to urgently evacuate Kinburn Peninsula“, Ateș transmitted.
According to the same source, the supply of ammunition, fuel and food would have been severely affected, and Russian units in the area would have suffered significant losses.
So far, the information has not been independently confirmed.
Kiev announces territorial gains
The statements come as the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Sîrski, said that Kiev's forces have recaptured more than 600 square kilometers of territory since the beginning of the year.
According to him, only in May Ukraine would have recovered over 100 square kilometers more territory than it lost, a signal that the pace of military operations could change after a long period in which the front remained relatively stable.
The Kinburn Peninsula is considered an important strategic position because it provides control over access to ports in the Mykolaiv region and key areas in the northwestern Black Sea.
A possible loss of this position would complicate the defense of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014 and considered by Moscow to be a key strategic objective.
Fears of new operations in Crimea
In Russia, some voices in the military environment expressed concern that Ukraine could prepare large-scale operations against the Crimean peninsula.
Reserve General Yevgeny Bujinsky said Ukrainian forces could try to establish a bridgehead in the region, a scenario that would pose a major challenge to Moscow.
In parallel, strong explosions were reported in an ammunition depot in the Russian region of Belgorod, located on the border with Ukraine. Local media reported that the military facility was damaged in an incident that is still under investigation.
Also, Ukrainian sources announced the strike of a facility associated with the production of drones at the Protasovo airfield, but the information could not be independently verified.
Continued attacks on Ukrainian cities
As fighting continues on the front lines, Ukrainian cities remain the target of Russian attacks.
The authorities in Kiev announced that a new bombardment on the city of Kharkiv resulted in the death of three people and the wounding of 15 others, including two children.
Russia and Ukraine continue to carry out attacks on each other's military and logistics infrastructure as the war enters a new phase marked by the intensive use of drones and precision weaponry.
Moscow reaffirms the nuclear doctrine
Amid developments on the front, Russian officials reiterated the Kremlin's position on using nuclear weapons in the event of a threat deemed existential.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Russia and Belarus are prepared to use “all available means,” including nuclear weapons, to deter what Moscow describes as possible aggression.
The statements reflect rising tensions between Russia and the West, at a time when developments on the battlefield continue to influence the strategic calculations of both sides.
