--- title: "Russia claims control of 5,300 sq km and 220 settlements in Ukraine" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-claims-control-of-5300-sq-km-and-220-settlements-in-ukraine" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/russia-claims-control-of-5300-sq-km-and-220-settlements-in-ukraine" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-claims-control-of-5300-sq-km-and-220-settlements-in-ukraine.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/russia-claims-control-of-5300-sq-km-and-220-settlements-in-ukraine" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-09-19T10:46:00.666Z" source_reported: "2026-09-19T10:04:05.000Z" updated: "2026-09-19T10:46:00.666Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 52 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-19T10:45:17.137259+00:00" --- # Russia claims control of 5,300 sq km and 220 settlements in Ukraine *Defence Ministry reports territorial gains since start of 2026, including September advances.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Official Ministry statement and specific figures with source give a 74 trust score. - Craft 52 of 100, higher is better. Specific data present but largely a reproduced announcement, resulting in 52 critic score. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are mildly emphatic but not exaggerated, yielding a 30 hype score. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Russian forces have taken control of more than 5,300 square kilometres and 220 settlements in Ukraine since the start of 2026, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. - In September alone, Russian troops seized over 670 square kilometres and 27 settlements, the ministry reported. - Since 5 September, Russian forces have reduced Ukrainian-controlled territory in Kharkiv by 152 square kilometres and captured nine settlements. - Independent verification of the claims is difficult due to the ongoing war. The Russian Defence Ministry has stated that its forces have gained control of over 5,300 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and 220 settlements since the beginning of 2026. The ministry reported that in September, Russian troops seized more than 670 square kilometres and 27 settlements. Operations are ongoing to establish security zones in border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions. According to the ministry's statement, Russian forces have reduced Ukrainian-controlled territory in northeastern Kharkiv by 152 square kilometres since 5 September, capturing nine settlements. The ministry also claimed Ukrainian forces suffered approximately 700 personnel losses. Intense fighting is reported near the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration, with street fighting occurring in Dobropillia. The ministry accused Kyiv of conducting an 'aggressive information campaign' with Western media support to portray Ukrainian actions as major successes. ## Disputed claims The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces suffered about 700 personnel losses. Anadolu Ajansı reported this claim. No other reports mentioned Ukrainian personnel losses. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mention the Russian Defence Ministry's claims regarding advances in the Zaporizhzhia region or street fighting in Dobropillia. None of the right-rated reports mention the Russian Defence Ministry's claims regarding Ukrainian personnel losses. No centre-rated outlet covered this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (1) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 83% (5) 6 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-19T10:45:17.137259+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-19T11:15:36.160Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from fakti.bg led with the Russian Defence Ministry's claim of capturing 220 villages since the start of the year. The report also detailed Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod and Kursk regions, stating that two civilians were killed and 12 injured in the past 24 hours. It noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) had attacked the Belgorod region more than 150 times in one day, hitting residential buildings and commercial facilities. The report cited military analysts suggesting these Ukrainian strikes aim to stretch Moscow's logistical lines and slow Russian pressure in Donbas. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Anadolu Ajansı, Sapo, La Razón, vz.ru, and news-pravda.com focused on the Russian Defence Ministry's claims of territorial gains. Anadolu Ajansı reported that Russian forces had taken control of over 5,300 square kilometres and 220 settlements since the beginning of the year, with 670 square kilometres and 27 settlements captured in September. This report also mentioned ongoing operations for security zones in Sumy and Kharkiv regions, and advances in the Zaporizhzhia region. vz.ru highlighted that the US lost nine villages in Kharkiv province since 5 September, with the Russian military reducing enemy-controlled territory by 152 square kilometres. news-pravda.com and Sapo also reported the September figures of 27 settlements and over 670 square kilometres. La Razón stated the Russian Army demands the seizure of more than 200 localities during 2026. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 3 - unknown: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Sapo](https://sapo.pt/artigo/russia-reivindica-captura-de-5-300-quilometros-quadrados-de-territorio-ucraniano-em-2026-6aae5e2b40a8eac321ed0ea4) — Russia Claims to Capture 5,300 Square Kilometers of Ukrainian Territory in 2026 - [noticiaslatam.lat](https://noticiaslatam.lat/20260919/mas-de-200-localidades-y-5000-kilometros-cuadrados-la-defensa-rusa-informa-de-los-avances-de-2026-1175116024.html) — More than 200 Localities and 5,000 Square Kilometers: Russian Defense Reports Progress of 2026 - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/russia-claims-to-have-taken-control-of-over-5-300-sq-km-220-settlements-in-ukraine-this-year/4061737) — Russia Claims to Have Taken Control of over 5,300 Sq Km, 220 Settlements in Ukraine This Year - [La Razón](https://larazon.es/internacional/rusia-asegura-haber-conquistado-5300-kilometros-ucrania-este-ano_202609196aae5546c2f1e923641060fe.html) — Russia Claims to Have Conquered 5,300 Kilometers in Ukraine This Year - [anlatilaninotesi.com.tr](https://anlatilaninotesi.com.tr/20260919/rusya-savunma-bakanligindan-eylul-bilancosu-operasyon-bolgesinde-27-yerlesim-kontrol-altina-alindi-1108874091.html) — Russian Defense Ministry's September Report: 27 Settlements in the Operation Zone Have Been Brought Under Control. - [Noticias ao Minuto](https://noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/3054090/russia-reivindica-captura-de-5300-km2-de-territorio-ucraniano-em-2026) — Russia Claims Capture of 5,300 Km2 of Ukrainian Territory in 2026 - [Aydınlık](https://aydinlik.com.tr/haber/rusya-bu-yil-ukraynada-5-bin-300-kilometrekareden-fazla-alani-ve-220-yerlesimi-kontrolune-aldi-590793) — Russia Has Taken Control of More than 5,300 Square Kilometers and 220 Settlements in Ukraine This Year. - [oreanda-news.com](https://oreanda-news.com/gosudarstvo/armiya-rossii-s-nachala-goda-osvobodila-5300-kvadratnyh-kilometrov-minoborony/article1601138) — The Russian Army Has Released 5,300 Square Kilometres of the Ministry of Defence Since the Beginning of the Year. - [Life.ru](https://life.ru/p/minoborony-vs-rf-zanyali-devyat-naselennyh-punktov-pod-harkovom-s-5-sentyabrya) — Ministry of Defence: The Russian Federation Has Occupied Nine Settlement Sites Under Kharkov Since 5 September. - [vz.ru](https://vz.ru/news/2026/9/19/1452997.html) — Since 5 September, the U.S.A. Has Lost Nine Villages in Kharkiv Province - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/russia/2026/09/19/2603431.html) — In September, 27 settlements and more than 670 square kilometers came under Russian control, the Defense Ministry said - [fakti.bg](https://fakti.bg/world/1082079-rusnacite-prevzeli-220-sela-ot-nachaloto-na-godinata) — The Russians Have Captured 220 Villages Since the Beginning of the Year ## Questions **How much territory has Russia claimed to control in Ukraine this year?** The Russian Defence Ministry claims its forces have taken control of over 5,300 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of 2026. This figure is reported across multiple news outlets. **What gains did Russia claim in September?** According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Russian troops seized more than 670 square kilometres and 27 settlements in September alone. This represents a portion of the larger territorial claims made for the year. **What specific claims were made about the Kharkiv region?** The Russian Defence Ministry stated that since 5 September, Russian forces have reduced Ukrainian-controlled area in Kharkiv by 152 square kilometres and captured nine settlements. This detail was reported by several outlets. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-claims-control-of-5300-sq-km-and-220-settlements-in-ukraine. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Russia claims control of 5,300 sq km and 220 settlements in Ukraine", https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-claims-control-of-5300-sq-km-and-220-settlements-in-ukraine