In March 2025, the Russian army recorded only 23 square kilometers of territorial gains in Ukraine, the smallest advance since September 2023, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This stagnation is attributed to effective Ukrainian counteroffensives and restrictions on communication tools, including a ban on Starlink terminals and limited access to the popular messaging app Telegram. Concurrently, Russian military strikes led to 14 civilian deaths as daytime bombardments increased. Additionally, Ukrainian drone attacks have severely impacted Russia's oil export capabilities, particularly at the Ust-Luga and Primorsk hubs, forcing refineries to seek alternative, costlier transport routes. Amid these challenges, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for urgent legislative action to secure $52 billion in funding necessary for the country's war efforts and EU accession reforms. He stressed the importance of passing key bills to strengthen the court system and reform energy sector procedures, highlighting the dire budget situation following delays in legislative progress.