Russia liberated 32 settlements from Ukrainian forces in December – MOD to Putin | 29 Dec 2025 | The Russian military has taken control of 32 frontline settlements in December and continues to advance against Ukrainian forces in multiple locations, the chief of Russia’s General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, has told President Vladimir Putin. On Monday, the Russian president held a meeting with the country’s top military brass, including Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, and the commanders of troop groupings operating in the conflict zone. In December, Russian forces liberated over 700 square kilometers of territory, taking some 32 settlements under control, Gerasimov said at the meeting. This month, the military has shown the highest rate of progress in the entire outgoing year, he noted, adding that troops are advancing “along virtually the entire frontline.”