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Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion
(10 days later)
Russia declares victory in Mariupol in the south, as fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region intensifies. Russian forces are continuing to make advances in east of the country but strong resistance from Ukrainian troops is slowing their progress.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
Russia claims to have taken the port city of Mariupol Russian forces continue to make small gains around eastern city of Izyum
Last Ukrainian troops in Mariupol are trapped in steelworks complex But strong Ukrainian defences in Donbas region are holding for now
Russian troops continue to arrive along the 300-mile front in Donbas Russian forces still trying to clear Mariupol of last Ukrainian troops
Russia advances into frontline towns of Rubizhne and Popasna Concern grows that Russia wants conflict to spread to Moldova
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, but its forces have now fully withdrawn from around the capital Kyiv and northern Ukraine to Belarus and Russia. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, but its forces withdrew from around the capital Kyiv and surrounding regions to Belarus and western Russia in early April.
A large-scale Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine has begun after Russia refocused its efforts there, following its withdrawal from the north of Ukraine. Russia has since refocused its efforts on taking control of the east and south of Ukraine.
Russia claims a victory in the south Russia targets full control of south
Russian forces initially made rapid gains in the south, with their main objective being the creation of a land corridor between Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and areas held by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.Russian forces initially made rapid gains in the south, with their main objective being the creation of a land corridor between Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and areas held by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Standing in the way of that objective has been the port city of Mariupol, which has been encircled by Russian forces since the start of March. But strong resistance from Ukrainians forces near Mykolaiv in the west and in Mariupol in the east significantly slowed Russian advances.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on television with his defence minister to declared victory in Mariupol, despite over 1,000 Ukrainian fighters remaining at the Azovstal metal works. The port city of Mariupol, which has been encircled since the start of March, is now mostly under the control of Russian forces - although several hundred Ukrainian troops remain in the Azovstal metal works factory in the south of the city.
President Putin cancelled an expected assault on the Azovstal complex, instead ordering his forces to "block off this industrial area so that not even a fly can escape" after the final Ukrainian troops refused to surrender. Russian forces have blockaded the sprawling industrial complex and are continuing their aerial bombardment of it, but no attempt has been made yet to clear Ukrainian troops from a network of tunnels beneath the factory.
Russia has been accused of war crimes for its intense shelling of the city, with the local mayor saying more than 20,000 civilians have been killed. Russia has been accused of war crimes for its intense shelling of the city, with the local mayor saying at least 20,000 civilians have been killed. More than 100,000 people remain trapped in the city.
To the west, Russia had been attempting to push towards Odesa, with the aim of cutting off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea, but their advances stalled at Mykolaiv. To the west, Russia has been attempting to push towards Odesa, with the aim of cutting off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea, but their advances stalled at Mykolaiv.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Ukrainian troops in the area may attempt to retake the city of Kherson in the coming weeks. Last week, a senior Russian military commander said the objective was still to take control of all of southern Ukraine and establish a land corridor with Transnistria - a breakaway part of Moldova where Russian troops are already based.
There have been a series of explosions in Transnistria in recent days, which the Russian-backed government has blamed on Ukraine. However, Ukraine has claimed these are so-called "false flag" operations - an attempt by Russia to destabilise the region and spread the conflict.
Transnistria and Ukraine conflict: Is war spreading?
Fighting intensifying in the east
Russian officials have said its forces are fighting for the "complete liberation" of the Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion.
Russia has substantially increased its troop numbers in the Donbas region in recent weeks, with satellite imagery showing a build-up of forces on Ukraine's border and convoys of vehicles travelling towards the front line.
Russian gains in the Donbas region have been limited so far, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), because there are well-established Ukrainian defences that have been in place there since fighting started in the region in 2014.
The UK Ministry of Defence said on Friday the battle for Donbas remained Russia's main strategic focus. It said fighting had been particularly heavy around Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, and there had been an attempted advance south towards Slovyansk.
Military analysts have told the BBC that Ukrainian troops are outnumbered three-to-one in the region and are likely to concede some open ground in order to concentrate on the defence of key cities, where the Russians will find it more difficult to fight.
War in Ukraine: More coverageWar in Ukraine: More coverage
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IN MAPS: Tracking the invasion ANALYSIS: Isolated Russia divided over Ukraine offensive
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READ MORE: Full coverage of the crisisREAD MORE: Full coverage of the crisis
Russia targets full control in the east
Russian officials have said that the focus of their forces is now the "complete liberation" of the Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion.
Russia has substantially increased its troop numbers in the Donbas region in recent weeks, with satellite imagery showing a build-up of forces on Ukraine's border and convoys of vehicles travelling towards the frontline.
Both sides are locked in combat along the 300-mile front. The Ukrainians have repelled "numerous" attempted advances, according to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) but the ISW says Russian forces have taken parts of Rubizhne and Popasna, two cities to the east of Izyum.
Ukraine claims to have retaken the town of Maryinka near Donetsk.
The ISW says Russia may be attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces from Izyum to Donetsk, but the "haste" with which the offensive was launched could jeopardise its success.
North retaken after Russian retreatNorth retaken after Russian retreat
Russia abandoned a stalled push towards Kyiv, which had begun in the first days of its invasion, and withdrew its forces from the north of the country. Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards Kyiv, which had begun in the first days of its invasion.
Successful counterattacks by Ukrainian forces helped retake areas around Kyiv and, as the Russians withdrew, the Ukrainians were able to advance all the way to their northern borders with Belarus and western Russia.Successful counterattacks by Ukrainian forces helped retake areas around Kyiv and, as the Russians withdrew, the Ukrainians were able to advance all the way to their northern borders with Belarus and western Russia.
The Russian retreat has allowed a clearer picture to emerge of the huge amount of damage and destruction to lives and towns and villages seized during their push towards the capital, with allegations of war crimes committed by Russian troops. However, Kyiv is still at risk from Russian aerial attacks. A missile attack on the capital on Thursday - while United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was visiting the city - killed at least one person.
By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou and Prina Shah.By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou and Prina Shah.
About these mapsAbout these maps
To indicate which parts of Ukraine are under control by Russian troops we are using daily assessments published by the Institute for the Study of War with the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.To indicate which parts of Ukraine are under control by Russian troops we are using daily assessments published by the Institute for the Study of War with the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.
To show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using daily updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research.To show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using daily updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research.
The situation in Ukraine is fast moving and it is likely there will be times when there have been changes not reflected in the maps.The situation in Ukraine is fast moving and it is likely there will be times when there have been changes not reflected in the maps.