Holding the frontline in 2025: Russian losses soared, front lines largely frozen

Russia failed to capture any significant territory in Ukraine in 2025, reports Ukrainian-based Teksty. Despite internal challenges and a halt to most American military aid, the Ukrainian army achieved its main objective: the front lines held firm.

“The year 2025 was an extremely difficult one, both psychologically and practically. Psychologically, because this is the fourth year of the war — fatigue has mounted and the pressure is immense. Practically, because it was essentially the first year Ukraine held its ground without American assistance,” the journalists wrote.

The front line became blurred, turning into a gray zone where the real situation was hard to assess. Drones and unmanned systems were heavily used, but Russian forces often had an advantage thanks to Chinese support and small-unit tactics.

Russian forces advance along frontline in [Dark Gray] Jan. 1 to [Red] Dec. 17, 2025 [Light Gray] gray zone [Blue] liberated

During the year, Russia occupied more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) of Ukrainian territory, mostly in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The most difficult situation was in the south, particularly around Huliaipole and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces advanced tens of kilometers, while Ukrainian troops worked to stabilize its defense.

In some areas, such as Kupiansk (Kharkiv region) and Kostiantynivka (Donetsk region), Ukrainian forces delivered effective counterattacks, repelling Russian breakthroughs and maintaining strategic positions. However, localized fighting continues along many parts of the front, with the enemy systematically using FPV drones and new tactics to disrupt Ukrainian logistics.

Russia’s main goals this year are to advance toward Sloviansk, Kramatorsk (both in the Donetsk regions), and Zaporizhzhia. So far, the occupiers lack the resources to capture these cities, though destruction and probing attacks could intensify.

Ukraine continues to hold key positions and retains the potential for counterattacks, leaving hope for front-line stabilization in the coming year, the journalists said.