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Ukraine Reclaims Eight Settlements and 400 km², While Russia Tightens Online Controls

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  • In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system during a drill close to the frontline on the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
    In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system during a drill close to the frontline on the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system during a drill close to the frontline on the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Source Full size
  • Servicemen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade are firing the 2S22 “Bogdana” at Russian military positions on August 20, 2025 in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine.
    Servicemen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade are firing the 2S22 “Bogdana” at Russian military positions on August 20, 2025 in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine.
    Image: Newsweek
    Servicemen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade are firing the 2S22 “Bogdana” at Russian military positions on August 20, 2025 in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine. Source Full size
  • Servicemen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade are firing the 2S22 “Bogdana” at Russian military positions on August 20, 2025 in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine.
    Servicemen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade are firing the 2S22 “Bogdana” at Russian military positions on August 20, 2025 in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine.
    Image: Newsweek
    Servicemen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade are firing the 2S22 “Bogdana” at Russian military positions on August 20, 2025 in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine. Source Full size
  • In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system during a drill close to the frontline on the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
    In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system during a drill close to the frontline on the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers fire an anti-tank missile system during a drill close to the frontline on the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Source Full size

Front‑line advances accelerate after February 11‑15 surge Ukrainian forces retook eight settlements and more than 400 km² along the southern front, according to Commander‑in‑chief Oleksandr Syrskyi’s Telegram post on 23 Feb 2026[1]. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) recorded a 201 km² gain over five days from 11‑15 Feb, the fastest advance since mid‑2023[3]. President Zelensky later claimed roughly 300 km² liberated in the south, highlighting a rapid but uneven recovery across the Dnipropetrovsk‑Zaporizhzhia axis[2].

Key villages and sectors see contested back‑and‑forth fighting Airborne units reported operations in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, recapturing over 300 km² and eight settlements, with intense battles around Ternove and Vyshneve on 20 Feb[1]. ISW’s open‑source mapping confirms Ukrainian control of villages east of Novopavlivka, central Ternove, and northwest of Verbove since the start of the year[2]. Russian forces continued limited assaults on the same villages, underscoring a fluid front line where both sides “cling to every meter”[1].

Russia expands digital repression and exploits Belarusian infrastructure A 20 Feb decree signed by President Putin authorises the FSB to block Telegram and other services, removing “emerging security threat” language and broadening censorship powers[2]. The FSB alleges Ukrainian intelligence harvests Telegram data, while Russian officials tout a secret “military messenger,” a claim met with skepticism by milbloggers[2]. Pro‑Ukrainian hackers revealed Russian drones rely on Belarusian cellular towers for navigation, enabling routes that previously crossed NATO airspace, highlighting Belarus’s deepening logistical role[2].

Diplomatic talks stall as military pressure mounts Kyiv’s chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov said U.S.–brokered peace negotiations are stalled, though another round could occur later in the week[1]. Meanwhile, Geneva talks scheduled for 27‑28 Feb face a “massive” Russian drone‑missile barrage targeting energy and industrial sites, a move described by Ukraine as pre‑emptive pressure ahead of the summit[3]. The contrasting momentum on the battlefield and diplomatic gridlock shape the near‑term outlook for both sides[1][3].

Sources

Timeline

2014 – Russia annexes Crimea and parts of Donbas, accounting for about 7 % of Ukraine’s territory, a precedent that frames later peace‑talk demands [2].

Feb 2022 – Russia launches a full‑scale invasion, seizing roughly 27 % of Ukraine’s land, establishing the contested front lines that persist into 2026 [2].

Mid‑2023 – Ukraine records its last rapid territorial gain before 2026, highlighting a period of relative front‑line stability that ends with the 2026 surge [2].

Late 2025‑early 2026 – Adverse weather slows Russian offensives, delaying further advances in Donetsk and influencing strategic calculations [4].

Jan 28, 2026 – President Zelensky confirms a Shahed‑drone strike on a Kharkiv passenger train kills at least five civilians, underscoring ongoing Russian aerial attacks [4].

Jan 28, 2026 – The United States ties additional weapons and a NATO Article 5 guarantee to Ukraine agreeing to cede all of Donbas, including Donetsk, to Russia, prompting ISW warnings of a strategic error [4].

Jan 28, 2026 – Russian generals claim capture of 17 settlements and over 500 km² since Jan 1, but ISW verifies only about 265 km², exposing inflated reporting [4].

Jan 28, 2026 – ISW projects that Russia cannot seize the remainder of Donetsk before August 2027 due to resource constraints [4].

Feb 11‑15, 2026 – Ukrainian forces recapture 201 sq km in five days—the fastest advance in 2½ years—cutting Russian‑held territory to below 18 % of Ukraine’s area [2].

Early Feb 2026 – Elon Musk announces SpaceX restrictions on “unauthorized” Russian use of Starlink; Ukrainian officials credit the move with delivering “real results” on the battlefield [2].

Feb 20, 2026 – President Volodymyr Zelensky tells AFP Ukraine has liberated roughly 300 sq km in the south, signaling momentum after Starlink disruptions [3].

Feb 20, 2026 – President Putin signs a decree empowering the FSB to block Telegram and other online services, expanding state control over internet communications [3].

Feb 20, 2026 – The FSB alleges Ukrainian intelligence harvests Telegram data, while the Russian MoD touts a secret “military messenger,” indicating an imminent Telegram shutdown [3].

Feb 20, 2026 – Ukrainian forces strike the Votkinsk Machine‑Building Plant and the Neftegorsk gas‑processing facility with FP‑5 cruise missiles, targeting key Russian missile production and energy infrastructure [3].

Feb 20, 2026 – Pro‑Ukrainian hackers reveal Russian drones rely on Belarusian cellular towers, enabling routes that previously crossed Polish NATO airspace and highlighting Belarus’s role in Russia’s war effort [3].

Feb 20‑21, 2026 – U.S.–brokered Geneva peace talks convene, with Russia demanding retention of large parts of southern and eastern Ukraine while Kyiv rejects any territorial concession as illegal [2].

Feb 22, 2026 – ISW confirms Ukrainian liberation of at least 168.9 sq km since Jan 1, noting advances around Novopavlivka, Ternove and Verbove along the Dnipropetrovsk‑Zaporizhia border [3].

Feb 22, 2026 – The FSB claims Ukrainian forces exploit Telegram for intelligence, while Russian officials present an unverified encrypted messenger, reflecting escalating information‑war tactics [3].

Feb 23, 2026 – Commander‑in‑chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reports elite troops have reclaimed eight settlements and over 400 km² since late January, marking a rare front‑line gain for Ukraine [1].

Feb 23, 2026 – Russian attacks target the villages of Ternove and Vyshneve in Dnipropetrovsk region, illustrating continued contested fighting on the southern front [1].

Feb 23, 2026 – Former commander‑in‑chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.K., says drones and AI are reshaping modern conflict and that exhausting the enemy’s resources remains the main goal [1].

Feb 23, 2026 – Kyrylo Budanov notes stalled U.S.–brokered peace talks could resume later that week, suggesting another round of negotiations may occur soon [1].

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