Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that his forces seized 1,301 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in September. Speaking at the Valdai forum plenary in Moscow, he added that Russia will conquer the remainder of Donetsk province much earlier than expected.
Claims at Valdai
Putin said the Russian offensive is accelerating, and that September's figure is roughly 2.5 times higher than the sum of previous months. According to him, Ukraine still controls about 11% of Donetsk province. He claimed that assessments in Ukraine and Europe speak of an ability to hold out for another 18 months to two years, though he did not detail the source of those assessments. "If the loss of these territories is inevitable, is there any point in holding them and sacrificing people, their security and their lives?" Putin asked.
The independent data
Data from non-Russian sources do not confirm the claim. An AFP analysis based on figures from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) found that Ukraine gained about 80 square kilometers more than it lost in September. According to that analysis, Russia advanced about 104.5 sq km in Zaporizhzhia province and about 20 sq km in Sumy province, but Ukrainian gains offset and exceeded them.
The figure for control of Donetsk is also disputed. Reuters reported on September 28 that Ukraine controls about 20% of the province, nearly double what Putin stated. Ukrainian units recaptured dozens of square kilometers near Lyman in recent days, and Russian forces are still more than ten kilometers from the fortified cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. In the past, Putin has declared the conquest of towns such as Kupiansk and Sviatohirsk, even though some remained under partial Ukrainian control.
Talks remain stuck
Putin said Moscow wants to end the war "as soon as possible, preferably through negotiations," but repeated its demand for Ukrainian neutrality. According to him, proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump include difficult decisions for Russia, but Moscow sees them as a step in the right direction.
Putin placed responsibility for the absence of talks on Kyiv. According to him, Russia was ready to resume contacts after the parliamentary elections in September, but Ukraine attacked during the voting, and six election committee members were killed in the strikes. The claim has not been independently verified.
In addition, according to Reuters, Putin warned the West against escalation. He said Moscow will use all weapons at its disposal, including nuclear, if Kaliningrad is threatened.
