Tue Dec 31 17:51:17 UTC 2024: ## Russian Forces Make Significant Gains in Ukraine in 2024: The Hindu
**Paris, December 31, 2024** – Russian forces significantly expanded their territorial control in Ukraine during 2024, capturing an estimated 3,985 square kilometers (1,539 square miles), according to an analysis by Agence France-Presse (AFP) based on data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This represents a sevenfold increase compared to territorial gains in 2023.
The surge in Russian advances was particularly noticeable in October and November, with 610 and 725 square kilometers seized respectively. These two months marked the highest territorial gains for Russia since the early weeks of the conflict in March 2022. The increased activity is attributed to a rise in Russian troop movements in the autumn.
The intensified fighting comes amidst ongoing missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian targets, including the capital Kyiv. Further escalating tensions, Russia has firmly stated its opposition to Western peacekeepers in Ukraine and insisted that any peace deal must guarantee Russian security. Reports indicate that Russia has also recently captured two villages, furthering its advance on key cities. A photograph released by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanised Brigade shows a Ukrainian fortification line on the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region.
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