Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskii announced on Telegram that Ukraine reclaimed more territory than it lost in May, with a net gain of nearly 100 square kilometers (40 square miles). He stated that Ukraine recovered 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) in the first five months of 2026.
Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, citing military sources, estimated net gains at 120 square kilometers (46 square miles), with Russia seizing 130 square kilometers (50 square miles) and losing 250 square kilometers (100 square miles).
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), using open-source geolocated data, assessed Ukrainian gains at 280 square kilometers (108 square miles) versus Russian gains of 40 square kilometers (15 square miles). ISW believes Ukraine reversed the trend as early as April.
However, Russia made progress in eastern Donetsk, advancing into Konstantynivka, where it now controls about 13% of the city. Russian President Vladimir Putin has prioritized capturing the remaining fifth of Donetsk but has repeatedly missed deadlines.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the logistical lockdown is working, with the number of strikes on targets over 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the frontline doubling in May compared to April. Syrskii reported nearly 2,000 strikes in May.
Weeks of attacks in Kherson and Zaporizhia regions reduced Russian military traffic on the M-14 highway by over 70%, leading to a traffic ban on June 7. A subsequent strike on a bridge over the Chonhar Strait left only the E97 route passable, where Ukrainian forces ambushed Russian fuel and ammunition trucks.
Fuel shortages in Crimea worsened dramatically: Sevastopol occupation governor Mikhail Razvozhaev rationed fuel to 20 liters per car per week. The Ukrainian underground group Atesh reported Russian units abandoning positions on the Kinburn Spit due to lack of food and fuel.
Ukrainian drones hit 180,000 targets in May, a 12.7% increase from April. Shoot-downs of Russian Shahed drones rose 50% to about 4,000. Fedorov expects a step-change with a new interceptor drone that automates 95% of the interception process.
Russia faces recruitment challenges: only 14,500 people signed contracts for drone units since January, 21% of the annual target. Ukraine estimates 31,500 Russian casualties in May, with overall losses outpacing recruitment.
Source: www.aljazeera.com