Ukraine Claims Russian Summer Offensive Falls Short of Strategic Goals

A firefighter works at the site of an apartment building hit during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine in this handout picture released August 30, 2025.

Ukraine’s armed forces have declared that Russia’s much-publicized summer offensive failed to secure full control of any major Ukrainian city, despite Moscow’s claims of significant territorial gains.

Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that since March, Russian forces had captured over 3,500 square kilometers of territory and taken control of 149 settlements. However, Ukraine’s General Staff dismissed these figures as “grossly exaggerated,” asserting that no major urban centers were fully occupied by Russian troops.

Military analysts note that Russia’s campaign, aimed at seizing the Donbas region and forcing Ukraine into concessions, devolved into a slow, attritional struggle rather than the decisive breakthrough Moscow had anticipated. While Russian forces did achieve localized advances, Ukrainian defenses held in key areas, preventing the collapse of strategic supply lines.

Kyiv warns that although the summer push failed to meet its objectives, Russian forces have gained certain tactical advantages that could shape battles in the coming autumn and winter months.