Russian general's claims on gains disputed

Russia's Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, claimed in a recent speech that Russian forces have seized 1,700 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2026 and are advancing on major cities. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has disputed these figures, stating its own tracking shows the actual gains are far less significant. The discrepancy highlights the ongoing information war surrounding the conflict's progress and Russia's efforts to project momentum.