Exhausted Russian Troops Lose Momentum as Ukraine Increases Counterattacks (Video)

The Russian army has suffered severe losses and exhaustion, causing its offensive in Ukraine to slow significantly. The rate of Russian advances has reached its lowest point since April 2024, and the Ukrainian military is taking advantage of this pause to strengthen its positions and increase counterattacks.

According to data from the OSINT project DeepState, between 3 March and 9 March, Russian forces captured only 14.4 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory, which is only slightly more than the previous week. The main areas of Russian advancement were near Svatove in Luhansk, where 12.4 square kilometres were taken, though no settlements were captured. Another 2.4 square kilometres were occupied in the Donetsk region, near the village of Pryvolne. In contrast, the Ukrainian military regained 0.5 square kilometres near Pokrovsk, demonstrating their ability to push back against Russian assaults. A week earlier, Russian forces had attempted a breakthrough in Burlatske in Donetsk but made only limited progress. Additionally, Russia lost control of approximately 3 square kilometres in other sections of the frontline.

Military analysts believe Russia is reaching the limits of its offensive capacity. Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, told The New York Times that Russian troops are exhausted, and worsening weather conditions, along with Ukraine’s ability to adapt to Russian assault tactics, are making further advances increasingly difficult.

The Ukrainian army has used this situation to consolidate its defences and regain key strategic positions. In the Pokrovsk region, Ukrainian troops have taken back important defensive points, improving their situation in urban combat zones such as Toretsk. OSINT analysts confirm that Ukrainian forces have reinforced their positions in the centre of Toretsk, creating a threat of encirclement for Russian troops.

While Russia may attempt to regroup and launch new offensives, the current decline in momentum raises serious questions about its ability to sustain prolonged assaults. The Kremlin must now decide how quickly it can replenish its forces and resources to continue its war efforts. Reports suggest that Russian soldiers who refuse to take part in so-called “meat assaults” – a term for high-casualty frontal attacks – face severe punishment, which could indicate falling morale and growing dissent within Russia’s armed forces.