Russia Expands Territorial Gains in Ukraine, Says Italian Intelligence

Rome: Russia is conquering more and more territory in Ukraine, Italy’s annual intelligence service report to parliament said Tuesday. The report highlights significant territorial gains made by Russian forces in Ukraine during the third year of the ongoing conflict.

According to Ansa News Agency, the report presented at intelligence headquarters in Rome indicates that Russian forces have taken the initiative in almost all sectors of the front. The report notes that Russia has acquired six times more territory in 2024 than in 2023, despite suffering high losses, estimated at a rate of over a thousand men, dead or wounded, per day last autumn.

The report further detailed challenges faced by Ukraine, including “the inability to recruit and train a sufficient number of troops,” “serious shortages in artillery and air defense ammunition,” and the “weakness of the defensive lines in Donbass.” Additionally, the report mentions that US President Donald Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine, impacting the country’s defense capabilities.