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Russia says Ukraine controls 15–17% of Donetsk region

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 10, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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Russia says Ukraine controls 15–17% of Donetsk region
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MOSCOW, March 10 (Reuters) - The Russian-installed head of Ukraine's Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian president Vladimir Putin at a meeting shown on state TV on Tuesday that Ukraine

Russia says Ukraine controls 15–17% of Donetsk region

Current Situation in Donetsk Region

Russian Claims and Statements

MOSCOW, March 10 (Reuters) - The Russian-installed head of Ukraine's Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting shown on state TV on Tuesday that Ukraine controls around 15-17% of the region.

Russia claims the whole of the Donetsk region as part of Russia and says it is protected by Russia's nuclear umbrella.

Ukrainian Response

Ukraine says it will never recognise Russia's control over parts of Donetsk and other Ukrainian regions partially or fully held by Russia.

Details on Territorial Control

Russia rarely gives specific details of exactly how much territory it controls in Ukraine.

The figures given by Pushilin indicate that Russia controls 83% to 85% of Donetsk and therefore more than 90% of the Donbas region, which is made up of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Aidan Lewis)

Key Takeaways

  • Pushilin’s 15–17% figure marks a significant recalibration compared with August 2025 estimates that Ukraine held around 30% of Donetsk region (apnews.com).
  • Independent assessments like ISW previously estimated Ukraine controlled about 25% of Donetsk, underscoring contested data and fluctuating front‑line dynamics (foreignpolicy.com).
  • Russia continues to claim the entire Donetsk region as its territory under its “nuclear umbrella,” while Ukraine firmly rejects recognition of Russian control over any part of its sovereign regions (lemonde.fr).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of Donetsk does Ukraine currently control?
According to Russian sources, Ukraine controls about 15–17% of the Donetsk region.
Does Russia claim all of Donetsk as Russian territory?
Yes, Russia claims the entire Donetsk region as part of its territory.
What is Ukraine's position on Russian control of Donetsk?
Ukraine refuses to recognize Russian control over any part of Donetsk or other occupied regions.
Who is Denis Pushilin?
Denis Pushilin is the Russian-appointed head of Ukraine's Donetsk region.
How does Russia justify its claim over Donetsk?
Russia claims Donetsk is under its sovereignty and protected by its nuclear umbrella.

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