Ukrainian forces took back a net 100 square kilometers of territory in May 2026, while long-range strikes inflicted an estimated $1.058 billion in economic damage on Russia, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on June 8, 2026, in his monthly summary on Telegram.

“Despite constant pressure from the enemy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to steadfastly hold the defense,” Syrskyi said. He put Ukraine’s total recaptured territory since the start of the year at more than 600 square kilometers.

Where the fighting is heaviest

The most intense battles in May took place in the Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole directions. Syrskyi said the balance of territory regained versus lost was about 100 square kilometers in Ukraine’s favor. Ukraine had earlier liberated more than 400 square kilometers in the south since winter and retaken much of Kupiansk in the east.

Deep strikes reach Moscow

Ukraine’s deep strike units hit 111 targets across Russia’s military-industrial, energy and fuel infrastructure in May. For the first time, Syrskyi said, Ukraine carried out coordinated strikes on multiple targets in Moscow and the Moscow region under a single operational plan. He estimated the combined direct and indirect losses to Russia at about $1.058 billion.

Drones, air defense and shipping

  • Unmanned Systems Forces: struck more than 88,000 targets, with command estimating over 30,500 Russian troops killed or wounded by drone strikes.
  • Air defense: destroyed more than 59,000 aerial targets and repelled 25 combined Russian missile and air strikes.
  • Navy: carried out about 1,500 operations to protect civilian shipping, allowing 633 vessels to reach the ports of Greater Odesa and the Danube.

Syrskyi said Ukraine still needs more modern air defense systems and missiles. All figures are Ukrainian military estimates and could not be independently verified.

Sources

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