Putin Says Russian Forces Captured Dobropolye in Donetsk

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with military officials, including Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, at the Joint Forces Group command headquarters. He stated that Russian forces will continue to strike Ukrainian defense industry and infrastructure facilities in response to attacks on Russian energy facilities.

Putin announced that Russian forces have captured the city of Dobropolye in the Donetsk region. He described the capture as an important development that opens a direct route to the borders of the Donetsk People's Republic.

“We have captured the city of Dobropolye.”

According to Putin, Russian forces have seized 6,500 square kilometers of territory and 310 settlements since the beginning of 2026. He said more than 2,000 square kilometers have come under control this year alone, while 2,748 square kilometers within the Donetsk borders remain under Ukrainian Armed Forces control.

Putin said the Luhansk People's Republic is now fully under Russian control. He added that the Kiev regime continues to control slightly more than 10 percent of the Donetsk People's Republic territory and 16.5 percent of the Zaporizhzhia Region.

Gerasimov reported that Russian forces have shot down 15,000 aerial targets since September. Putin emphasized that security along Russia's border regions will not be made a subject of possible peace negotiations with Ukraine.