MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said late Tuesday that Russian forces have taken control of nearly 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles) of territory in Ukraine this year as the war enters its fourth year.

Speaking at a military meeting in St. Petersburg alongside Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and other senior officials, Putin said Russian troops “liberated” 4,900 square kilometers and captured 212 settlements since the beginning of the year.

“Our soldiers and officers played the decisive role in making that happen,” he said, adding that Russian forces “fully retain the strategic initiative” along the front line.

Putin praised the country’s defense industry for its “crucial role” in sustaining the military campaign, claiming Ukrainian troops are retreating across several directions despite offering “persistent resistance.”

“In an attempt to show its Western sponsors at least some semblance of success, the Kyiv regime is trying to target civilian facilities deep inside our territory. This will not help it,” Putin said.

He said Moscow’s goal remains to “ensure the safety of Russian citizens and strategic infrastructure, including energy facilities.”

Russia’s Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that the most active fighting is occurring near Pokrovsk and in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region. He claimed Russian forces have seized over 200 square kilometers in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia since Sept. 1.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the claims, and independent verification remains difficult due to the ongoing conflict.

The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded and displaced millions. — Agencies