Putin Claims Ukraine Counteroffensive 'Failed Completely' Despite Minor Territorial Gains

President Putin said Russian forces have bolstered positions across the entire front line in Ukraine after the failure of Ukraine's counteroffensive.

Russia currently controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory. The 4-month Ukrainian counteroffensive has made almost no net territorial gains.

Putin said the Ukrainian counteroffensive has "failed completely" though Ukraine took back some territory Russia captured last year.

Both Russia and the U.S. described increased fighting around Avdiivka as a new Russian offensive. Putin called it "active defense."

According to Harvard's Belfer Center, Ukraine made a net gain of 8 square miles of territory in the month to Oct. 10.