More liberated than Russia captured: Zelenskyy on the front line since the start of autumn

Since the beginning of autumn, Ukrainian forces have liberated more territory than the Russian army has captured over the same period. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this on Sunday, October 18, following a briefing by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi. According to the President of Ukraine.

According to the president, the Ukrainian military had also seen positive momentum on the front in previous months.

“This year’s trend continues: since the beginning of autumn, our troops have liberated more territory than the Russians have managed to capture. The same was true in other parts of the year,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The president did not specify the areas of territory liberated or captured since the beginning of autumn.

He gave particular attention to the area around Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast. According to him, Russian units continue their assaults and attempts to infiltrate Ukrainian positions. The Defense Forces are repelling the attacks and destroying enemy groups trying to establish a foothold in the area.

Ukrainian forces are also holding key defensive positions in other parts of Donetsk Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The president praised the effectiveness of the Air Assault Forces and the Third Army Corps, whose units are carrying out operations as part of active defense.

The president named the following settlements as remaining under Ukrainian control:

• Dobropillia;
• Kostiantynivka;
• Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka;
• Orikhiv;
• Novopavlivka;
• Nov Andriivka;
• Velykomykhailivka.

“And we are defending the areas near Kramatorsk,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.

Regarding the Zaporizhzhia direction, the head of state rejected claims by the Russian leadership that its forces had advanced to within 5 kilometers of the regional center. According to the president, Ukrainian forces are destroying Russian units approximately 20 kilometers from Zaporizhzhia.

Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukrainian defenders are fulfilling their assigned tasks and continue to hold their defensive lines.

“Our front line is strong. I thank every soldier and every one of our units for fully carrying out their tasks,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.

We wrote earlier:

• Operation Vivaldi: Ukrainian Armed Forces liberate Serednie and clear four areas in Donetsk Oblast
• Ukrainian counteroffensive foils Russia’s plan to encircle Sloviansk and Kramatorsk from the north
• Ukrainian forces clear around 2 km² of forest in the Kupiansk direction
• Ukrainian offensive: 745 km² and 26 settlements liberated; Russia loses 9,500 troops killed
• ISW: Russia’s advance slowed sharply in 2026 — buffer zone near Kharkiv remains out of reach