Russian reports contain data on 5000 km² of territory not controlled by the invader
The Russian Federation officially claims control over territories that in reality remain under Ukrainian control. This is indicated by calculations from French OSINT analyst Clement Molin. This is reported by the portal PromPolitInform, citing the Telegram channel of Crimean Wind.
French specialist Clement Molin has analyzed official reports from the Russian Ministry of Defence and identified significant discrepancies in occupation data. According to his calculations, the Russian Federation artificially inflates the area of captured Ukrainian lands by 5000 square kilometers.
The aggressor’s reports include settlements where Russian forces are physically absent. As an example, the analyst cites Sviatohirsk, which is located at a significant distance from the frontline but was nevertheless included in the list of territories controlled by Russia.
Discrepancies in reports
The current figures published by the Russian government differ significantly not only from Ukrainian data but also from the estimates of pro-Russian analysts. The Russian agency overstates the capture area figures by 3000 square kilometers compared even to those who openly support the occupation forces.
At the same time, the actual dynamics of the Russian occupation groups’ advance at the front show a substantial slowdown. Statistics indicate a significant decrease in the pace of capture compared to the previous year.
Slowing pace of advance
Since the beginning of 2026, the Russian army has managed to occupy about 650 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. For comparison, during the same period in 2025, this figure reached 3146 square kilometers.
Thus, the official propaganda rhetoric of the Russian Federation regarding the scale of the occupation differs significantly from the actual indicators on the battlefield. The manipulation of figures is likely intended to create an illusion of rapid progress for the domestic audience.
Illustrative photo: Oleksandr Malyon / CC BY-SA 4.0
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