Ukraine war update: Russian forces see their slowest progress since 2024 as Starlink is cut, data reveals

In February, Russia’s forces posted their weakest front‑line gain in Ukraine in almost two years, according to data examined by the Institute for the Study of War, while Ukrainian units achieved a number of limited breakthroughs. The deceleration occurred as Moscow’s troops faced difficulties after Elon Musk terminated their use of Starlink communications. Over the month, Russian units moved forward only 123 square kilometres (48 square miles) – the smallest advance since April 2024 – as reported by Agence France‑Presse.

The figures also indicate that Ukrainian forces achieved a series of limited gains in February, such as a 61‑square‑kilometre advance on 15 February and increments exceeding 50 square kilometres on 21 and 23 February. Kyiv’s units recorded their greatest progress along the southern sector, forcing Russian troops to retreat in the Dnipropetrovsk area. At the same time, Moscow’s forces continued a slow push eastward, drawing nearer to the strategic towns of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk’s eastern zone. Russia presently controls just over 19 percent of Ukrainian territory.

On Monday, Russia’s Sheskharis oil terminal halted shipments after a Ukrainian drone strike that wounded five people, damaged twenty structures and ignited a fuel depot, according to officials from both sides and three trade sources. Located in Novorossiysk, the Sheskharis terminal is Russia’s principal Black Sea oil gateway, handling about 700,000 barrels of crude each day. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, reported that drones hit six of the terminal’s seven loading points and also targeted Russian warships. Ukraine’s general staff added that the drones struck a naval base and an S‑400 air‑defence system. Russian statements made no reference to damage to military equipment. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the specific targets hit.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Monday that US‑mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine slated for later this week could be moved to Switzerland or Turkey if the planned session in Abu Dhabi becomes unfeasible because of the conflict in the Middle East. He added that Western nations have so far shown no sign that their supply of essential air‑defence missiles to Kyiv will be affected by Middle‑East commitments. Recent peace talks have stalled, with Russia demanding that Ukraine cede the remaining portion of the eastern Donbas area that Moscow does not presently hold.

Ukrainian officials reported on Monday that Russian attacks killed at least eight people in Ukraine, including victims of an assault on a civilian passenger train. Three fatalities occurred in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian stronghold that Russian troops are approaching, according to officials. The governor of the broader Donetsk region said two people died and thirteen were injured in Druzhkivka.