Russia maintains 4 oblasts in the east but territory hasn't been the main goal (one reason they let Kiev alone), Russian style Military strategy focuses on destroying enemy forces. They use "kettling" or "pocketing" were targeting troops are surrounded and contained and then they destroy them with artillery, thermobaric weapons and such.
en.wikipedia.org
US media get things wrong a lot because Russia will kettle and smash a portion of Ukrainian soldiers and then leave the area. When Ukrainian forces move back into the destroyed area, US media will report it as "a successful counter-offensive" which it never was.
US news is essentially "puppet media" fed by US blob. Obama advisor Ben Rhodes described them as youngsters easy to manipulate because most only cover campaigns and know little about foreign affairs. Rhodes conned them over Iran.
US military experts like Doug Macgregor say Putin hasn't been going as hard as he could have. He wanted to avoid destruction of Ukraine (he sees Kiev as a special place) and creating the larger war of opportunity that NATO types want. Kiev is where the reporters and foreign politicians stay. There is electric, internet, heating etc and people still party and live normal. There never was a "battle for Kiev" that was won by Ukraine.
The war began with an attempt to depose the unpopular Zelensky in Kiev. Chechens were supposed to get into Kiev while a bunch of low trained recruits drove around in 1980s/90s vehicles as distractions. The Turkish drones and NATO trained forces did better than expected and the mission was a flop. Then US and others made it all into an "invasion of conquest" and sack of Kiev. Putin just wanted Ukraine neutral and free from foreign installed governments seeded by NATO.
