# Russia’s advance in Ukraine has slowed significantly, Air Assault Forces commander says

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/russias-advance-in-ukraine-has-slowed-significantly-air-assault-forces-commander-says/
- Published: 2026-11-13T13:01:51+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T23:07:23+00:00
- Original publisher: Kyiv Independent
- Original article: https://kyivindependent.com/russias-advance-in-ukraine-has-slowed-significantly-air-assault-forces-commander-says/
- Topics: Europe, World

## Key points

- Apostol says Russia’s advance has slowed amid heavy losses.
- Russia lost about 27 square kilometres in October, according to ISW.
- Ukraine says two counteroffensives regained more than 800 square kilometres.

## Summary

Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces commander, Maj. Gen. Oleh Apostol, says Russia’s battlefield advance has slowed significantly as heavy losses limit its ability to sustain offensives. He argues that taking small patches of land does not amount to meaningful operational progress, while Ukrainian counteroffensives show the country can still resist and regain territory.

Russian forces continue operations near Dobropillia, Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. The Institute for the Study of War estimates Russia lost about 27 square kilometres in October, while Ukraine’s General Staff reported 54,400 Russian casualties that month, the highest monthly total since the full-scale invasion began. Apostol said Ukrainian forces had retaken more than 800 square kilometres in two operations, and that infantry remains essential to holding ground despite the prominence of drones. U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi ended on 11 November without progress on the key territorial dispute.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.