Russia failed to achieve key objectives for 2025: occupation of the Donetsk region and a buffer zone.

According to ТСН: The Russian military command failed to fulfill key objectives planned for 2025, including the complete occupation of the Donetsk region and the creation of a 'buffer zone' in northern Ukraine.

This is stated in a new report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Failure of the Kremlin's 'deadlines'

According to the information from the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Colonel Pavlo Palisa, Moscow planned to fully capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by September 1, 2025. Additionally, by the end of the year, the enemy was supposed to create a 'buffer zone' along the northern border. However, both objectives remain unfulfilled.

Situation in the Pokrovsk and Vremivka directions

Despite the overall strategic failure, throughout the year the occupiers concentrated significant resources in specific areas:

• Pokrovsk: Russian troops entered the city in September 2025. As of December, they control about 67.6% of the city’s territory.

• Velyka Novosilka and Huliaipole: After capturing Velyka Novosilka in January, the enemy intensified its efforts towards Huliaipole. In early December 2025, fighting was recorded directly within Huliaipole.

• Dobropillia: In August, enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups broke through towards the city, but the Russian command failed to translate tactical success into operational breakthrough. The Ukrainian defense forces later reclaimed about 70 square kilometers of the occupied territory.

Advance on the 'Fortress Belt'

The enemy continues attempts to surround the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration:

1. Northeast: In December 2025, the occupiers advanced to Lyman and likely captured Siversk.

2. Southwest: On August 1, 2025, Russia completed the capture of Toretsk (the assault lasted 14 months). In October, fighting began for Kostiantynivka.

Northern Front: Kursk, Kharkiv, and Kupyansk

At the northern borders, the situation for the enemy remains unstable:

• Kursk region: The Russians managed to push back Ukrainian forces only in March 2025.

• Sumy and Kharkiv: The attempt to create a 'buffer zone' in Sumy region turned out to be unsuccessful. The advance on Velykyi Burluk (Kharkiv region) stalled quickly in July, and the front there remained inactive until December.

• Kupyansk: Contrary to the Kremlin's claims of capturing the city, the occupiers failed to establish control over it. Moreover, in December 2025, Ukrainian troops carried out a successful counterattack and reclaimed most of Kupyansk.

These events highlight the importance of conducting warfare on all fronts and illustrate how Russia's strategic plans not only fail but also lead to costs that Moscow cannot understand. The situation remains tense but underscores the resilience and determination of Ukrainian forces in defending their territories.