Ukraine reports territorial gains as Russia restricts fuel in Orenburg

On August 12, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian military has reclaimed 745 square kilometers of territory along the frontline since January. This offensive operation, which Kiev claims proceeded as planned, resulted in the return of 26 settlements to Ukrainian control across the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, specifically along a 60-kilometer stretch where these regions intersect.

Simultaneously, the Russian region of Orenburg has introduced strict fuel rationing following a drone strike on the Orsk oil refinery earlier this week. Regional Governor Yevgeny Solntsev stated that a difficult fuel supply situation has necessitated measures including a total ban on filling portable containers, quantity limits for vehicle refueling, and a rotation system based on odd or even calendar days. This follows a period of intensified Ukrainian military activity, which has increasingly targeted Russian supply and energy infrastructure across the 1,200-kilometer front line.