During 2024, the Defense Forces of Ukraine lost control over more than 3,600 km² of territory. This is evidenced by the calculations made by the publication “Military” based on the open data of the DeepState project. Only in December, the rate of loss averaged 16.45 km² per day.
The largest losses were recorded in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, where Russian troops intensified their offensive in the second half of the year. The publication emphasizes that the intensity of Russian attacks has increased significantly since the summer.
According to the data, the monthly loss of territory in 2024 looked like this:
- June: 100 km² per month, which is equal to 3.4 km² per day;
- July: 160 km² per month, or 5.2 km² per day;
- August: 370 km² per month, 12 km² per day;
- September: 400 km² per month, 13.4 km² per day;
- October: 560 km² per month, 18.7 km² per day;
- November: 610 km² per month, 20.3 km² per day;
- December: 510 km² per month, or 16.45 km² per day.
The situation was particularly acute in October and November, when the rate of losses reached its peak.
For comparison, during 2023, Russia seized about 540 km² of Ukrainian territory, while the Defense Forces were able to liberate about 430 km². Thus, the dynamics of losses in 2024 significantly exceeds previous indicators.
As of January 1, 2025, DeepState data shows major changes to the battle map. The loss of territories remains a significant challenge for Ukraine, as the rate of advance of Russian troops in some periods of the year was extremely high.
The year 2024 became a difficult stage in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Despite the courage and resilience of the Defense Forces, Russia was able to make significant progress, especially in the second half of the year. This emphasizes the importance of further support of Ukraine from international partners and the need to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities. Losing control over significant territories is not only a tactical, but also a strategic challenge that requires decisive action.
