Bild: Russia seized only 1% of Ukrainian territory

Russia has managed to seize only 4,400 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in 2025—less than 1% of the land still under Ukrainian control, according to the German newspaper Bild. 

The limited territorial gains come at a staggering human cost, with nearly 100,000 Russian citizens estimated to have died in the ongoing conflict this year.

By mid-2025, Russian opposition outlet Mediazona reported 48,000 deaths, with 22,000 identified by name. Analysts suggest that fatalities in the second half of the year likely remained at least constant, if not slightly higher, as Russia intensified its offensive operations. In addition, around 200,000 Russians are believed to have been wounded. Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drone strikes are responsible for approximately 90% of Russian casualties, highlighting the growing effectiveness of Ukraine’s drone warfare.

Despite Russia’s ambitions, Ukraine continues to hold significant portions of the territories annexed by Moscow in 2022. Ukrainian forces still control 5,700 square kilometres of Donetsk, 5,800 square kilometres of Zaporizhzhia, and 6,400 square kilometres of Kherson, underscoring Russia’s failure to meet even its minimal territorial objectives.

Economic pressure on Moscow is mounting. Russia faces soaring inflation and prohibitive interest rates, driven not only by Western sanctions—recently extended to state-owned energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil—but also by hundreds of Ukrainian long-range strikes on critical Russian oil, gas, and energy infrastructure.

Experts suggest that Russia’s only potential route to a “quick victory” now may involve coordinated diplomatic pressure with the Trump administration, aimed at forcing Kyiv to voluntarily withdraw its forces from strategically sensitive areas.

By Khagan Isayev