Kyiv, Feb 17: Ukraine’s forces have made their fastest battlefield gains since 2023, according to new analysis, even as civilian casualties from Russian bombardment surged 26 per cent in 2025 amid intensified strikes on cities and infrastructure.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Kyiv may be benefiting from a recent block on Russian troops’ access to Starlink, potentially disrupting their battlefield communications and coordination.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks were “constantly evolving” and increasingly relied on combined waves of drones and missiles.
“Special defence and support from our partners” was required to counter the changing tactics, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, underscoring the need for sustained Western military assistance.
Meanwhile, former US president Donald Trump said he wanted Kyiv to reach a deal with Moscow “fast”, signalling a push for expedited negotiations to end the conflict.
Separately, a report by UK-based monitor Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) said 2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 injured in Ukraine in 2025 due to explosive violence, based on English-language media reports.
The average number of civilians killed or injured per strike rose to 4.8, a 33 per cent increase compared to 2024, reflecting what AOAV described as increased Russian targeting of urban areas and critical infrastructure.
The deadliest single attack this year occurred in Dnipro on June 24, the report said.
