In 2024, the Russian army occupied over 3,600 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory.

According to the results of 2024, the Defense Forces lost control over more than 3600 km² of territory. The most significant territorial losses for Ukrainian defenders occurred in Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. In Donetsk Oblast, the enemy concentrated its most substantial offensive potential and achieved its greatest successes. This is stated in a report by the "Militarniy" portal, published on January 4.

Military analysts, citing data from the DeepState service, note that the Russians increased their pace of advance in the second half of 2024. Below are the estimated areas of captured territories excluding the Kursk region.

• June – 100 km²/month and 3.4 km²/day;
• July – 160 km²/month and 5.2 km²/day;
• August – 370 km²/month and 12 km²/day;
• September – 400 km²/month and 13.4 km²/day;
• October – 560 km²/month and 18.7 km²/day;
• November – 610 km²/month and 20.3 km²/day;
• December – 510 km²/month and 16.45 km²/day.

The report mentions that throughout 2024, the Russians managed to eliminate the Defense Forces' foothold in the Krynkiv area in Kherson and establish control over a larger part of the islands in the area of the old Dnipro riverbed. Overall, throughout the year, the occupiers seized about 95 km² of territory in Kherson, which was under the control of the Defense Forces as of December 2023.

Additionally, Ukrainian defenders lost control over 97 km² of territory in the area from Kamianske to Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia. In this direction, the lowest offensive activity of the occupying troops was observed throughout the year, as a number of combat-ready units were redeployed to the Krynkiv area and later to Kursk.

In the Kamyanske area, the Defense Forces managed to improve their tactical position and take control of approximately 5 km² of territory.

In Kursk Oblast, during an operation that began in August, the Defense Forces were able to take control of 1100 km² of territory within a month. By the end of 2024, about 460 km² remained under Ukrainian control.

In 2024, the enemy advanced the most along the entire stretch of Velyka Novosilka – Ocheretyne in Donetsk, where they managed to seize over 2400 km² of territory, with a maximum depth of captured territories of 45 km. Thus, the Russians reduced the distance to the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to less than 10 km south of Pokrovsk.

In the New York – Siversk area, throughout the year, the enemy was able to take control of at least 335 km² of territory. Analysts note that the accuracy of the count is complicated by the presence of a significant gray zone south of the city of Chasiv Yar.

In the Lyman and Kupiansk directions, throughout the year, the enemy gained control of at least 479 km² of territory.

In the northern Kharkiv region, as a result of the offensive in May 2024, the enemy established control over 211 km² of territory and was able to seize control of 13 settlements. However, the Defense Forces not only managed to stop the advance but also restored control in certain areas. According to the portal's assessment, the operation in northern Kharkiv by the end of 2024 ended in failure for the enemy.

According to "Militarniy" forecasts, the Russian army will continue efforts to completely seize the cities of Kurakhove, Toretsk, and Chasiv Yar, will advance towards the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with the prospect of starting hostilities in the region, and increase control over the territory of Donetsk Oblast in all directions.

It is also expected that efforts to eliminate the Defense Forces' footholds on the left bank of the Oskil River and expand their control on the right bank will increase. There is also a high likelihood of further attempts to land on the right bank of the Dnipro in Kherson or other regions to divert the already limited reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The enemy will continue to push the Defense Forces out of Kursk Oblast and enhance firepower against the Ukrainian border, adds the portal.

Furthermore, in a previous interview with the publication "Ukrainska Pravda", the head of the "Return Alive" fund, Taras Chmut, stated that the Russians lack the potential to completely seize Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, or Kharkiv, but the enemy may take advantage of the chaos in the management of Ukrainian forces and achieve certain local victories.