The Digester

Putin says Russia retook about 40% of Donetsk region held by Ukraine

Mar 20th 2026

At a meeting with DPR leader Denis Pushilin, President Vladimir Putin said Russian forces have retaken roughly 40 percent of the Donetsk People’s Republic territory that Kiev controlled six months ago, reducing Ukrainian-held areas to about 15 to 17 percent; Moscow says it aims for full control and Kyiv rejects giving up Donbass.

  • Putin said Russian forces have liberated about 40% of Donetsk People's Republic territory that Ukraine held six months ago.
  • He said Ukrainian control in the DPR has fallen to roughly 15 to 17 percent.
  • Putin cited December captures including Seversk, Krasnoarmeysk (known in Ukraine as Pokrovsk), Dmitrov (Mirnograd) and Rodninskoye.
  • Russian officials say their forces encircled several Ukrainian brigades around Krasnoarmeysk and Dmitrov, the first such encirclement since Mariupol in 2022.
  • Moscow says Donbass is sovereign Russian territory and intends full control, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out ceding the region.

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