Gerasimov Claims Russian Forces Seized 12 Villages in Ukraine | The Moscow Times
- Russia’s military has claimed the capture of a dozen eastern Ukrainian villages in February, according to statements released by the Defence Ministry on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
- Gerasimov stated that “in two weeks of February, despite severe winter conditions, combined forces and military units of the joint task force liberated 12 settlements.” However, the claim...
- The reported gains represent an uptick in the pace of Russia’s advance, which accelerated in the autumn.
Russia’s military has claimed the capture of a dozen eastern Ukrainian villages in February, according to statements released by the Defence Ministry on . The announcement came during a visit to troops in Ukraine by army chief Valery Gerasimov and just days before U.S.-mediated talks are scheduled to take place in Geneva aimed at ending nearly four years of conflict.
Gerasimov stated that “in two weeks of February, despite severe winter conditions, combined forces and military units of the joint task force liberated 12 settlements.” However, the claim could not be independently verified by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The reported gains represent an uptick in the pace of Russia’s advance, which accelerated in the autumn. Despite this, Moscow has yet to achieve its stated goal of fully seizing control of the Donetsk region after four years of war. Russia continues to demand that Kyiv withdraw from the entirety of the Donetsk region as a precondition for any peace agreement – a demand Ukraine has consistently rejected.
Gerasimov indicated that Russian forces are currently advancing towards Sloviansk, an industrial hub in eastern Ukraine. The city briefly fell under the control of pro-Russian separatists in 2014 and has been subject to frequent Russian attacks since. According to Gerasimov, Russian forces are positioned approximately 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Sloviansk.
Moscow continues to assert its claim over the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions of Ukraine, despite not having full control over all areas within those regions. Russian forces have made incursions into other Ukrainian territories. Gerasimov stated that Russia is working to “expand a security zone” in the northeastern border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, where they currently maintain control over pockets of territory.
The army chief also revealed plans to discuss “further actions in the Dnipropetrovsk direction” with other officers. Russian troops entered the Dnipropetrovsk region last summer as part of a westward push, although the Kremlin has not formally laid claim to the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Moscow remains determined to seize the entire Donetsk region, even if it requires military force. This unwavering position casts a long shadow over the upcoming negotiations in Geneva, and underscores the significant obstacles to achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict.
The timing of Russia’s announcement, coinciding with preparations for the Geneva talks and the approaching fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion – – suggests a potential attempt to strengthen Moscow’s negotiating position. The claim of territorial gains could be intended to demonstrate continued momentum on the battlefield, even as diplomatic efforts intensify.
The situation in eastern Ukraine remains highly fluid and contested. While Russia’s claims of capturing twelve villages cannot be independently confirmed, they highlight the ongoing intensity of the fighting and the continued challenges facing Ukrainian forces. The focus on Sloviansk suggests that the city is likely to be a key strategic objective for Russian forces in the coming weeks.
The expansion of the “security zone” in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions raises concerns about Russia’s long-term intentions in those areas. While Moscow frames this as a defensive measure, it could also be interpreted as a move to consolidate control over strategically important territory and potentially lay the groundwork for future offensives.
The upcoming U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva represent a critical opportunity to de-escalate the conflict and explore potential pathways to a peaceful resolution. However, the deep-seated disagreements between Russia and Ukraine, particularly regarding the status of the Donetsk region, pose significant hurdles to achieving a breakthrough. The Kremlin’s insistence on Kyiv’s withdrawal from Donetsk, a condition Ukraine has deemed unacceptable, underscores the fundamental impasse that continues to plague the peace process.
The Moscow Times reported separately that the Ukraine war is “killing Russia” according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. This suggests a growing recognition within Western capitals of the significant costs – both human and economic – that Russia is incurring as a result of the conflict.