ISW assessment says Russian forces lose 116 sq km, first setback since 2024
The Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian troops lost control of about 116 square kilometres in May 2026, marking the first ground loss since 2024 and indicating a sharp slowdown after months of incremental gains. A separate ISW campaign assessment released on May 3 echoes the same figures and adds that Ukrainian counter‑attacks have intensified, with no contradictory details between the two reports.