Kremlin: Military operation will continue as long as even a fraction of one percent of Donetsk region remains under Ukrainian control
On October 4, Russian President’s press secretary Peskov stated in an interview that Russia will continue its special military operation as long as “the Donetsk People's Republic” retains even a fraction of one percent of territory under Ukrainian control, a position that is not open to negotiation. He said diplomatic solutions are currently unfeasible and that Russia will pursue military objectives with full force; simultaneously warning any entity seeking to inflict significant damage on Russia that it will face costs comparable to those now being endured by Ukraine.
On October 1, Putin spoke at the Valdai Discussion Club annual meeting, stating that approximately 11% of the territory within the “Donetsk People's Republic” remains under Ukrainian control.
“Ukrainian leadership claims they can hold onto the remaining 11% of the ‘Donetsk People's Republic’ territory for about one and a half years. European estimates suggest Ukraine could maintain this position for two years. Given the pace of our military advances—and I emphasize this pace is continuously accelerating—we believe these developments will occur sooner than anticipated.”
Putin’s assertion that Ukraine controls about 11% of Donetsk Oblast lacks independent verifiable data. According to general assessments, as of September 2026, Ukraine controlled approximately 19–20% of Donetsk Oblast, while Russia held around 80–81%.
The figure of 11% reduces the estimated area under Ukrainian control by roughly 1.7 to 1.8 times. In terms of square kilometers, 11% equates to approximately 2,900 km², compared to 5,000–5,300 km² for the 19–20% range.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878118543962176/
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