Russia’s war in Ukraine is reaching a turning point as the initiative is likely shifting in Kyiv’s favour, experts monitoring the conflict say.

Moscow’s spring offensive failed to yield gains as its forces recorded a net territorial loss – of about 113 sq km – last month for the first time since August 2024, The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, claimed.

Battlefield losses are mounting as well, Ukraine’s defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov claimed earlier this month, declaring a Russian casualty count of 35,000 per month, far more troops than Moscow would be able to recruit.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, said Russia had no intention of ending the war, leaving Kyiv to brace for further attacks.

“Russia has no intention of ending this war. And we are, unfortunately, preparing for new attacks. ⁠But peace must come. That is exactly what we are working for,” he said.

Both sides reported fighting along the long frontline ​despite the ongoing ceasefire, and each accused the other of launching drone and artillery strikes.