Putin chairs Joint Force command meeting, cites 6,500 sq km liberated in 2026

President Putin visited a Joint Force auxiliary command post and chaired a meeting with General Staff leadership, focusing on the situation in the special military operation zone. He reported that since the start of 2026, Russian forces have liberated about 6,500 square kilometers and 310 settlements, including over 10% of the Donetsk People's Republic. This is a routine command update, but the specific territorial gains signal continued Russian offensive momentum in eastern Ukraine.