This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60506682

The article has changed 177 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 137 Version 138
Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia
(4 months later)
Russia has targeted cities across Ukraine in a new wave of missile strikes. Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive to retake territory from Russia's occupying forces is under way.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
Cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa have been hit by Russian missiles Ukraine's counter-offensive is continuing in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions but President Zelensky has acknowledged progress is "slower than desired"
Power at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was lost for several hours The UN has warned drinking water supplies could be affected for more than 700,000 people after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine
Heavy fighting continues around Bakhmut in the east of the country Russia has continued missile and drone attacks and says it has moved tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus
Front lines in the south around Kherson are largely stable Slow gains in counter-offensive
Missile strikes across Ukraine Ukraine has continued its counter-offensive operations and says its forces are making gains - although President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged battlefield progress has been "slower than desired".
On Thursday, Russian missiles struck targets in cities across Ukraine, killing at least nine people. Officials say they have taken eight settlements in the eastern Donetsk region and southern region of Zaporizhzhia and at least 113 sq km (44 sq miles) since starting their counter-offensive on 4 June.
Buildings and infrastructure were hit in Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv, with power blackouts in several areas. Mr Zelensky said the military push was not going easily because 200,000 sq km (77,220 sq miles) of Ukrainian territory had been mined by Russian forces.
Ukraine said Russia had fired 81 missiles, the largest number in a single wave for several weeks. Fighting is also continuing around what is left of the eastern city of Bakhmut - most of which is under Russian control after the longest and possibly bloodiest battle in the war - with Russia conducting limited ground attacks near the city.
Five people were killed in Lviv, while other targets included Dnipro, Kherson and Zhytomyr. Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Ukrainian forces had recently made limited advances in the area south-west of Bakhmut.
Russia said Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were launched in the attacks. They also note that Ukrainian forces may be intensifying efforts to strike Russian ground lines of communication in southern Ukraine.
A strike at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station cut the plant off from the Ukrainian power system for several hours, according to the nuclear energy operator Euratom. It follows claims from Russian officials that Ukraine has attacked a bridge linking Ukraine to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, with long-range British missiles.
For the sixth time since it was taken over by Russia a year ago, the facility operated on diesel generators, which have enough supplies to last at least 10 days. The two parallel Chonhar bridges - the shortest route from Crimea to the front line in the south - were both damaged, the Russian-installed governor in the occupied Kherson region said. However, he added they would be repaired quickly and that no-one had been hurt.
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has issued an urgent warning about safety at the plant. "How can this be allowed to happen... One day our luck will run out," said Rafael Grossi. The crossing is an important link to the occupied city of Melitopol, which lies on the coastal route from the Russian border across southern Ukraine to Crimea and is thought to be one of the targets of Ukraine's counter-offensive.
Fighting rages around Bakhmut in the east Drinking water fears after dam breach
Ukrainian forces are holding on in the eastern city of Bakhmut, under intense pressure from regular Russian troops and Wagner group mercenaries fighting on the Russian side. Ukraine's operation in the south was made harder when the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro river was destroyed this month in a suspected Russian sabotage attack.
On Wednesday, the Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said that his forces had captured all of eastern Bakhmut. Dozens of people died after areas downstream of the dam were flooded.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that the claim was "consistent with available visual evidence". Since the dam collapsed, water levels in the Kakhovka reservoir behind it have plummeted and satellite images - analysed by BBC Verify - show four canal networks have become disconnected from the reservoir.
Why Bakmut matters for Russia and Ukraine The canals are a source of drinking water to large parts of southern Ukraine and also provide irrigation for vast areas of farmland.
Has Putin's war failed? The UN says drinking water supplies could be affected for more than 700,000 people, mostly in Russian-occupied areas. There are also concerns about food production in the region.
Many military analysts say the city is of limited strategic significance. "Russian forces remain unlikely to rapidly exploit a breakthrough beyond Bakhmut if Russian forces capture the city," says the ISW. Tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus
The UK Ministry of Defence noted in December that capturing the city "would potentially allow Russia to threaten the larger urban areas of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk". Meanwhile, Russia has continued to target Ukrainian cities this week with missile and drone strikes, including on the capital Kyiv, Lviv in the west, and Zaporizhzhia and the port of Odesa in the south. A residential area of President Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rih was also hit.
Western officials estimate between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured so far in and around Bakhmut. Russia has also announced that it has moved tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus and US President Joe Biden has warned that the threat of Russian President Vladimir Putin using them is real.
The fighting is part of a Russian spring offensive, which many analysts say is now under way.
Michael Kofman, of the US-based Center for Naval Analysis, says that, so far, Russia's gains have been "underwhelming".
But, he adds, Ukraine may struggle to find weaknesses in Russia's defences to mount a counter-attack, as Russian troop positions have been heavily reinforced.
Front lines in the south stable
In the south of the country, artillery strikes continue around Kherson.
Russian troops withdrew to the left bank, or eastern side, of the Dnipro River in November.
Strikes by Ukrainian forces equipped with US-supplied Himars multiple rocket launchers had made Russian positions unsustainable.
On Wednesday, Ukraine said its forces had destroyed a Russian ammunition depot to the west of Kherson.
But many analysts assess that the front lines around the city are unlikely to change in the short term as Russia has built strong defences for its troops and equipment in the area.
More than a year of fightingMore than a year of fighting
Russia's invasion began with dozens of missile strikes on cities all over Ukraine before dawn on 24 February 2022.Russia's invasion began with dozens of missile strikes on cities all over Ukraine before dawn on 24 February 2022.
Russian ground troops moved in quickly and within a few weeks were in control of large areas of Ukraine.Russian ground troops moved in quickly and within a few weeks were in control of large areas of Ukraine.
They had advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv, and controlled much of the north-east of the country around Sumy.They had advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv, and controlled much of the north-east of the country around Sumy.
Russian forces were bombarding Kharkiv, and they had taken territory in the east and south as far as Kherson, and surrounded the port city of Mariupol.Russian forces were bombarding Kharkiv, and they had taken territory in the east and south as far as Kherson, and surrounded the port city of Mariupol.
But, they hit very strong Ukrainian resistance almost everywhere and faced serious logistical problems with poorly motivated Russian troops suffering shortages of food, water and ammunition.But, they hit very strong Ukrainian resistance almost everywhere and faced serious logistical problems with poorly motivated Russian troops suffering shortages of food, water and ammunition.
Ukrainian forces were also quick to deploy Western supplied arms such as the Nlaw anti-tank system, which proved highly effective against the Russian advance.Ukrainian forces were also quick to deploy Western supplied arms such as the Nlaw anti-tank system, which proved highly effective against the Russian advance.
More Western arms followed and by October the picture had changed dramatically - having failed to take Kyiv, Russia had withdrawn completely from the north.More Western arms followed and by October the picture had changed dramatically - having failed to take Kyiv, Russia had withdrawn completely from the north.
Ukraine had its first major success, pushing Russia back from Kharkiv, and counter-attacking around Kherson. Ukraine had its first major success, pushing Russia back from Kharkiv, and counter-attacking around Kherson and eventually regaining control of the city.
One year since the invasion, Ukraine is in control of Kherson and largely containing, for now, the Russian advance in the east. More than a year since the invasion, Ukraine is now hoping its latest counter-offensive can turn the war in its favour.
By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Alison Trowsdale, Tural Ahmedzade, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou, Simon Martin and Prina Shah. By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Alison Trowsdale, Tural Ahmedzade, Chris Clayton, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou, Simon Martin 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 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 often fast moving and it is likely there will be times when there have been changes not reflected in the maps.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Russia-Ukraine warRussia-Ukraine war
Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr Zelensky
RussiaRussia
Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
UkraineUkraine