Russian forces capturing territory the size of two football pitches every minute in Ukraine

RUSSIA is capturing territory the size of 2 shot pitches each infinitesimal successful Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin’s troops are advancing astatine their fastest since the invasion began successful 2022.

But it would inactive instrumentality much than a twelvemonth astatine the existent complaint to seizure the remainder of Donetsk province, seen arsenic Moscow’s minimum goal.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Kremlin troops seized astir 8.5 quadrate miles a time this period — despite America giving Kyiv support to deed Russia with long-range missiles.

Russian forces person blasted guardant astir Kupiansk, successful northeastern Kharkiv province, and Khurakove successful confederate Donbas.

But the attackers are swerving “Ukrainian strongpoints” specified arsenic good defended cities which they “cannot prehend arsenic rapidly,” the ISW said.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey warned the 600-mile frontline was the astir unstable it has been since February 2022.

But Russia’s complaint of beforehand is obscurity adjacent its highest of 490 quadrate miles a time — oregon 125 pitches a infinitesimal — successful the archetypal weeks of the war.

And the ruble has plunged to its lowest level since March 2022 contempt caller battlefield gains.

Ukraine has continued to blast targets successful Russia with US made ATACMS missiles.

Russia claimed the missiles deed an aerial portion successful Kursk and the adjacent Kursk-Vostochny airport, which hosts Su-30 combatant jets.

Moscow has vowed to retaliate.

Last week it unleashed an experimental hypersonic mean scope ballistic rocket sparking condemnation from the west.