Russia n President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia n forces had captured almost 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025 and that Moscow retained complete strategic initiative on the battlefield.

Russia ‘s 2025 gains would amount to nearly 1% of Ukraine ‘s land area, and the country controls nearly 20% in total.

Putin , addressing a meeting with Russia n top military commanders on his 73rd birthday, said Ukrainian forces were retreating in all sectors of the front. He said Kyiv was trying to strike deep into Russia n territory, but it would not help it to change the situation in the more than 3 1/2- year -old war.

“At this time, the Russia n armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative,” Putin

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