The greatest success on the front lines in years: what is known about the breakthrough of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
17 February 06:44
The Ukrainian Defense Forces have achieved their fastest success on the battlefield in the last 2.5 years. In just a few days, the Ukrainian military managed to liberate more than 200 square kilometers of territory, which was the biggest operational breakthrough since the counteroffensive in 2023. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to AFP data.
Ukraine regained 201 square kilometers in a few days
According to ISW analytics, between February 11 and 15, 2026, the Ukrainian military recaptured 201 square kilometers of territory from the Russian occupiers.
This is one of the fastest advances by the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war and the largest breakthrough in such a short period since the start of the large-scale counteroffensive in June 2023.
AFP journalists note that the area of liberated territory is almost equal to that which Russian troops were able to capture throughout December 2025.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine took advantage of communication problems among Russian troops
ISW analysts attribute the Ukrainian military’s success to serious communication problems among Russian occupation forces.
The Institute for the Study of War states:
“These Ukrainian counterattacks likely exploit the recent blocking of Russian forces’ access to Starlink, which, according to Russian military bloggers, is causing communication and command problems on the battlefield.”
Due to the loss of access to satellite communications, Russian units lost the ability to quickly coordinate their actions, which significantly reduced their effectiveness.
Ukraine’s decision on Starlink has affected the situation on the front lines
On February 2, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to create a so-called “white list” of Starlink terminals. This system requires mandatory registration and authorization of devices for operation in Ukraine.
The main purpose of this decision was to block the use of terminals by Russian occupation forces.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, after the introduction of the new rules, Russian troops encountered massive communication disruptions in certain areas of the front, forcing them to partially suspend their offensive operations.
The biggest breakthrough by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in recent years
Military experts emphasize that such a pace of liberation of territories demonstrates the effectiveness of Ukrainian tactics and the use of technological advantages.
The rapid advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could change the operational situation in certain areas of the front and create new opportunities for further counteroffensive actions.
At the same time, analysts emphasize that the situation on the front remains difficult, and fighting continues in many areas.
What this means for the war
The recent successes of the Ukrainian army demonstrate:
- the ability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to conduct effective counterattacks;
- the importance of technological superiority, particularly satellite communications;
- the significant impact of Starlink restrictions on Russian troops;
- the potential weakening of the occupying forces’ positions.
These results may influence the further course of hostilities and the strategic situation on the front lines.
