The Battlefield Expands: From Ukrainian Soil to Global Waters

Kyiv/Moscow – The battlefield of the Ukraine war is officially expanding, moving beyond the country’s borders and into global waters, according to accusations from Kyiv. This development comes as Russia claims to be solidifying its grip on Ukrainian soil.
The expansion was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who accused Russia of weaponizing its commercial oil tanker fleet. He alleged the ships are being used for “reconnaissance and even sabotage activities,” turning civilian shipping lanes into a new conflict zone. Zelenskyy affirmed that allies are working with Ukraine to stop this.
Meanwhile, on the original battlefield, Russia claims significant progress. President Vladimir Putin stated that his forces have captured nearly 5,000 square kilometers of territory in 2025, an achievement he says has granted Moscow the “complete strategic initiative.”
The conflict is also expanding diplomatically into a direct standoff between superpowers. Putin has warned the United States that supplying Tomahawk long-range missiles to Ukraine would be a grave error, triggering a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.”
Putin’s argument is that such a move would require U.S. military personnel, an act he claims would lead to the complete and final destruction of the relationship between Moscow and Washington.