Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that Ukrainian forces have significantly slowed the advance of the Russian Federation’s troops on the front. According to him, this was made possible by a comprehensive approach, in which the effective work of the Ukrainian military, the shutdown of Starlink for the Russians, and the active use of medium-range drones played a key role.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Shutdown of Starlink and New Technologies on the Battlefield
One of the decisive factors that influenced the situation on the front in 2026 was the disconnection of Starlink for Russian troops in February. As the minister emphasized, Russia has not been able to find a full-fledged alternative, which has given the Ukrainian side a strategic advantage in conducting combat operations. In addition, Ukraine has significantly expanded the use of medium-range drones, which has become one of the main technological advantages on the front. According to Fedorov, the targeted focus on developing this area is already yielding results: the destruction of enemy forces at operational depth leads to a reduction in assault actions on the front line.
“In addition to the work of the Ukrainian military and other factors, the shutdown of Starlink for the Russians in February 2026 played an important role here. The Russians have not been able to find a proper replacement, and this gives us a critical advantage on the battlefield.
Casualty Statistics and Strategic Objectives
Fedorov also outlined the strategic objective for Ukrainian forces — to inflict at least 200 casualties on the enemy for every square kilometer of their advance. To support this, the minister provided detailed statistics: in April 2026 alone, 35,203 Russian soldiers were killed or seriously wounded, who will no longer be able to return to the front. In March, this figure was 35,351, and in December 2025 — 34,544. All these data have been verified through the “eBaly” system and confirmed by combat units. According to the minister, every kilometer of enemy advancement is accompanied by increasingly higher losses: in October 2025, Russia lost 67 soldiers per square kilometer, in January 2026 — 165, in February — 244, in March — 254, and in April — 179.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, also informed NATO representatives about the effectiveness of the “active defense tactic.” According to him, this approach allows for exhausting the enemy, restoring positions, and inflicting maximum losses. Since the beginning of 2026, estimates by Syrskyi indicate that total Russian losses have already exceeded 141,500 individuals, of which more than 83,000 are irrecoverable.
In May, Russian publications “Meduza” and “Mediazona” estimated the total losses of the Russian army at the end of 2025 to be 352,000 individuals, including 261,000 dead and 90,000 who were declared dead or missing based on court decisions or with a delay in death registration of more than 180 days.
These calculations are based on open lists of the deceased, which “Mediazona” compiles in collaboration with the Russian BBC service and a team of volunteers, as well as data from the Russian Register of Inheritance Cases. As of April 2026, the names of at least 212,188 Russian servicemen killed in the war against Ukraine since February 2022 have been confirmed.
Estimates from international organizations and intelligence regarding total Russian losses (wounded and killed) are even higher. According to a senior NATO official, in December 2025, the total number of losses in the Russian army could approach 1.15 million individuals.