Russia’s land gains in Ukraine dwindle as its diesel reportedly goes unsold

Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine have slowed sharply in 2026, while its military losses have risen, according to figures cited from independent observers and Ukraine’s military. The article links these pressures to intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and reports that Russian diesel is going unsold.

The Institute for the Study of War estimates Russia seized 117.38 square kilometres in the first ten months of 2026, compared with 5,304 square kilometres in 2025 and 3,604 in 2024. Ukraine’s General Staff estimates 381,300 Russian personnel were killed or seriously wounded from January to October, though those figures cannot be independently verified; the article also describes Ukrainian strikes on eight Russian refineries in seven days.