Ukrainian armed forces have recorded their largest territorial gains since mid-2023, reclaiming over 200 square kilometers in five days. This success coincided with Russian units being cut off from the Starlink satellite system and having their access to the Telegram messenger restricted. The communications paralysis caused chaos in Russian ranks, preventing effective coordination of defensive actions and drone control.

Territorial Breakthrough

Ukrainian forces reclaimed 201 km² of terrain in five days, representing the fastest pace of progress since June 2023.

Starlink Blockade

Cutting off access to the Starlink network for Russians paralyzed their command systems and drone control on the front line.

Rebellion Against Censorship

Russian military bloggers criticize Roskomnadzor for attempts to block Telegram, which deepened the communications chaos in the army.

Russian invasion forces are facing an unprecedented communications crisis, which directly translated into the success of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Kyiv's rapid acceleration of operations allowed for the recovery of 201 square kilometers of territory between February 12 and 16, 2026. A key factor was Elon Musk's decision to block access to Starlink for Russian units, which had been using terminals acquired on the black market. Without a stable satellite link, Russian commanders lost the ability for real-time viewing from reconnaissance drones and coordination of artillery fire. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the Starlink system has become the foundation of Ukraine's technological advantage, enabling decentralized real-time command. Simultaneously, the Kremlin itself contributed to worsening its own troops' situation by attempting to block the Telegram messenger within the Russian Federation. The Roskomnadzor agency sought to force users to switch to the state-run app Max, which provoked fury among military bloggers and soldiers on the front line. Telegram had served as an unofficial but primary tool for exchanging operational information between units. „The Russians lost the ability to control the battlefield, which opened the way for us to strike at their weakest points.” — Ukrainian drone operator The cumulative effect of the lack of satellite internet and messenger paralysis led to disorientation, which the Ukrainians exploited by pushing the front in the Zaporizhzhia region faster than even the boldest analysts had predicted. Territory Reclaimed by Ukraine (February 2026): Wednesday - Sunday: 201, Average December 2025: 85, Eastern Strip: 91 Experts point out that the Russian army is trying to salvage the situation with solutions provided by Gazprom, but soldiers describe them as „complete garbage”. The lack of efficient communications particularly hit units operating in the so-called gray zone, where the dynamics of clashes require immediate decisions. If the technological blockade is maintained, Russia may face the necessity of a deep retreat to shorten supply lines and regain radio contact with command in the rear. 201 km² — territory Ukrainians reclaimed in just five days

Mentioned People

  • Elon Musk — Owner of SpaceX, whose decision to cut off Russians from the Starlink system had a key impact on the frontline situation.
  • Władimir Putin — President of Russia, whose army is facing a communications crisis.