Russian forces seized 14.57 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in Donetsk region last week, slightly less than the week before last (17.98 square kilometers), while other frontline sectors saw no significant changes, according to the OSINT project DeepState.
During the penultimate week of May, Ukraine’s Defense Forces liberated more than 8 square kilometers in Dnipropetrovsk region, and more than 40 square kilometers of previously occupied territory shifted into a so-called “infiltration zone” (“grey zone”). At the same time, minor advances were recorded in Kharkiv region, and the infiltration zone expanded in Sumy region. In the first week of summer, these front sectors saw no changes.
In the northern part of Donetsk region, Russian forces’ advances last week were mainly due to consolidation within the “grey zone,” which consequently shrank. In the western part of the region, however, Russian forces’ advances were accompanied by an expansion of this zone. Overall, the area of the infiltration zone changed very little over the week (a decrease of 0.11 square kilometers).
Thus, according to DeepState data, the area under occupation increased on average by 2.1 square kilometers per day over the past week.
In contrast, during the week before last, the total occupied area decreased due to counteroffensive actions by Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
