Ukrainian Forces Control 15–17% of Donbas, Officials Say
Ukrainian troops control 15–17% of Donbas, according to Denis Pushilin. Moscow urges withdrawal as tensions rise and negotiations continue.
Ukrainian forces currently hold roughly 15–17% of the Donbas territory, according to Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Pushilin stated that, at present, Ukrainian troops control between 15 and 17 percent of the region. The figure aligns with earlier assessments voiced in March 2026 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who noted that six months prior Kyiv’s forces had held about a quarter of the DPR’s territory. Back in the summer of 2025, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that Russian forces controlled 79% of the region.
Amid ongoing diplomatic contacts, Vladimir Zelensky expressed frustration over Russia’s position during talks with U.S. representatives. He indicated that Moscow had demanded Ukraine withdraw its troops from Donbas within two months, warning that failure to comply would lead to Russia taking full control of the region and imposing different conditions afterward.
Responding to these remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian authorities should make a decision on withdrawing their forces from the region as soon as possible.