Ukraine breaks Russia's ability to advance, says former general

Summary

Ukraine's former general Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that Ukraine has severely impaired Russia's ability to advance on the battlefield, attributing this to heavy losses inflicted on Russian forces. In September 2026 alone, Russian troops reportedly suffered over 46,000 casualties, while their territorial gains were minimal or negative. This assertion aligns with the broader trends observed during Ukraine's counteroffensive operations, known as Operation Vivaldi, particularly around Lyman and other areas of Donetsk. However, Zaluzhnyi cautioned that despite these losses, Russia still retains millions of trained personnel for potential mobilization, indicating that the situation remains fluid.

Analysis