---
title: "Zelensky: Ukraine to reach parity with Russia on territories by the end of 2026"
description: "Zelensky stated that Ukraine will reach parity with Russia in the area of occupied and liberated territories by the end of 2026. Since the beginning of the year, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have recovered about 820 sq. km, and the Dnipro region has been almost fully liberated."
date: 2026-08-23T11:40:05.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-ukraine-territorial-parity-russia-2026
tags: [zelensky, ukraine-russia, territory-parity, front-line, dnipro-region, 2026-offensive]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelensky: Ukraine to reach parity with Russia on territories by the end of 2026

![Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his office during a working meeting, stating that Ukraine will reach territorial parity with Russia by the end of 2026](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/23/zelensky-paritet-territorii-2026/zelensky-paritet-territorii-2026-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Zelensky announced that Ukraine will reach territorial parity with Russia by the end of 2026
- Since the beginning of the year, Russia has occupied ~990 sq. km, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated ~820 sq. km
- The Dnipropetrovsk region has been almost fully liberated; only ~10 sq. km (three villages) remain under Russian control
- Zelensky linked territorial parity to its political and diplomatic significance for the negotiation process

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at a meeting with journalists, stated that the country expects to reach parity with the Russian Federation in terms of the amount of temporarily occupied and liberated territory by the end of 2026. According to him, since January Russia has seized approximately 990 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces have regained control of roughly 820 square kilometers. “We believe that in 2026 we will reach an equal amount of square kilometers of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russia and liberated by us,” the head of state emphasized.

### Frontline dynamics: the Aleksandriivka direction and the Dnipro region

Zelensky separately addressed the situation in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The President reported that the region has been almost entirely liberated from Russian forces, with only about 10 square kilometers remaining under their control. “That is three small villages. There is effectively no enemy there anymore,” he noted. Thus, in his assessment, the deoccupation of the Dnipro region is in its final stage. In a broader context, Zelensky pointed out that in 2026 the Ukrainian Armed Forces are carrying out active offensive operations in the Aleksandriivka direction. Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian military forces have liberated 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The DeepState mapping project has already updated the map of combat operations in this sector, reflecting the results of the defense forces' advance.

### Political and diplomatic significance of parity

Zelensky emphasized that achieving territorial parity is significant not only in military terms. In his words, this indicator carries substantial political and diplomatic weight: it forms the basis for negotiations and demonstrates to international partners that Ukraine is capable not only of defending itself but also of systematically recovering lost positions. The President also reported that Ukrainian military forces continue to conduct operations at various sectors of the front and that the outcome of another “deal” is expected by the end of August 2026. Specific details of this deal were not disclosed in the public statement.

### Context and expert assessment

Zelensky's statement came against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities and debates over the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Reaching parity on territories, if achieved, will mark the first case in years of war in which the pace of deoccupation matches the pace of Russian forces' advance. This could influence the negotiation dynamics and Kyiv's positions in dialogue with Western partners. At the same time, experts note that quantitative parity is not equivalent to strategic advantage: the quality of held positions, logistical lines, and the depth of defense remain key factors that are not reflected in the simple arithmetic of square kilometers.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Ukraine may level the score with Russia on territories by the end of 2026, says Zelensky](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayina-mozhe-zrivnyati-rahunok-rosieyu-1787485039.html) - Подтверждает заявление Зеленского о паритете, цифры 990/820 кв. км, упоминание Днепровщины и 10 кв. км
- [President: This year we will reach an equal ratio of occupied and deoccupied ...](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/08/23/8049914/) - Подтверждает тезис о равном соотношении территорий в 2026 году
- [Only 10 square kilometers remain, – Zelensky announced changes at the front](https://24tv.ua/ru/kontrnastuplenie-v-dnepropetrovskoj-oblasti-skolko-territorij-ostalos-osvobodit_n3128275) - Подтверждает данные по Днепровщине (10 кв. км, три села) и наступательные действия на Александровском направлении
- [Zelensky announced changes at the front](https://donpress.com/news/23-08-2026-zelenskiy-anonsiroval-izmeneniya-na-fronte) - Подтверждает общую картину заявления президента о ходе боевых действий

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly did Zelensky say about the territories?
**A:** Zelensky stated that Ukraine expects to reach parity with Russia by the end of 2026: according to his data, since the beginning of the year Russia has occupied about 990 sq. km, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated approximately 820 sq. km. He expressed confidence that by the end of the year these figures will be equalized.

### Q: What is the situation in the Dnipropetrovsk region?
**A:** According to Zelensky, the Dnipro region has been almost fully liberated. About 10 square kilometers remain under the control of Russian forces, which, in his assessment, corresponds to three small villages.

### Q: Why is territorial parity important from a diplomatic standpoint?
**A:** Zelensky emphasized that quantitative parity matters not only on the battlefield but also in the political-diplomatic dimension: it can serve as an argument in negotiations and demonstrate to partners Ukraine's ability to systematically recover territories.

### Q: How many settlements have the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated since the start of 2026?
**A:** Since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian military forces have liberated 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, including during offensive operations in the Aleksandriivka direction.