The final 12 months of warfare in Ukraine — a battle about to enter its fourth 12 months — was marked by billions in assist, Ukraine seizing Russian territory and Moscow utilizing a brand new hypersonic missile.
On February 16, US president Donald Trump stated he may meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “very quickly” to debate ending the combating, elevating fears in Kyiv and Europe that they’re being sidelined.
Listed below are some key details and figures which have marked this previous 12 months of warfare — the third because the absolutely fledged Russian invasion of February 24, 2022.
– Kursk –
Ukraine has gained management of a whole lot of sq. kilometres (miles) of western Russian territory since launching a lighting offensive within the border area of Kursk in August 2024.
Within the early phases of the offensive, Ukraine stated it had seized as much as 1,400 sq. kilometres (540 sq. miles) of Russian territory.
A Russian counter-offensive means they’ve since misplaced round two thirds of that and now management about 500 sq. kilometres.
Lots of of Russian civilians didn’t have time to evacuate and nonetheless stay close to the fight zone, lower off from their households and from the remainder of Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just lately stated Ukraine’s maintain on the Russian territory was “necessary” by way of any future negotiations, an concept rejected by the Kremlin.
– North Koreans –
The suspected involvement of a overseas military has been seen as a significant escalation of the battle.
Ukraine, the US and South Korea have stated that, starting in October, North Korea despatched greater than 10,000 troops to assist Russian forces within the Kursk area.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have confirmed this.
Kyiv just lately stated it believed the North Koreans had been withdrawn, following heavy losses, however then stated they had been once more combating within the area.
Seoul’s intelligence companies stated in January that round 300 North Korean troopers had been killed and a couple of,700 injured.
Pyongyang has additionally been accused for months by Kyiv and the West of offering artillery shells and ballistic missiles to Russia.
– Oreshnik –
On November 21, Russia used its new hypersonic missile, nicknamed Oreshnik, for the primary time.
It focused the town of Dnipro in japanese Ukraine in response to Ukrainian assaults with US and British long-range missiles.
For this unprecedented assault the experimental weapon was not armed with a nuclear warhead.
However it may be outfitted with one and hit targets hundreds of kilometres away.
Putin has threatened to make use of the Oreshnik in opposition to “decision-making centres” in Kyiv.
– 4,360 sq. kilometres –
Russian forces have superior by 4,360 sq. kilometres in Ukraine since February 24, 2024.
That’s almost 22 instances greater than through the second 12 months of the warfare — 2023-2024 — after they took 200 sq. kilometres, in line with an AFP evaluation of information revealed this month by the US-based Institute for the Research of Struggle.
Almost three quarters of the territory taken by the Russians are within the japanese area of Donetsk, the place Moscow’s troops stated on February 7, 2025, to have taken the important thing mining city of Toretsk.
Russian forces are additionally on the gateway of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for the Ukrainian military and the coal business.
– $61 billion US assist –
In April 2024, underneath then president Joe Biden, the US voted via $61 billion in financial and army assist for Ukraine, after months of stalemate in Congress.
Between Donald Trump’s re-election in November and his return to the White Home on January 20, the Biden administration ramped up assist.
It unblocked $20 billion — its share of a $50-billion mortgage earmarked by the G7 which can be financed by the curiosity on Russian belongings frozen underneath worldwide sanctions.
Trump has signalled he may commerce assist to Kyiv for entry to Ukraine’s essential minerals, key parts utilized in electronics.
Zelensky has stated Kyiv desires its allies to spend money on its mineral assets and isn’t ready to provide them away.
