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Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia
(4 days later)
Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive to retake territory from Russia's occupying forces is under way. Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive to retake territory from Russia's occupying forces is continuing after the mutiny of Russia's Wagner mercenary group.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
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" Ukraine's counter-offensive is continuing in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions, with officials claiming to have taken the "strategic initiative" near the city of Bakhmut
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 The fallout from the mutiny by Russia's Wagner mercenaries and its possible implications for President Vladimir Putin continue to be analysed
Russia has continued missile and drone attacks and says it has moved tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus Russia has continued missile and drone attacks, including one which killed 12 people in a pizza restaurant in a city in Donetsk
Slow gains in counter-offensive 'Strategic initiative' taken around Bakhmut
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". Ukraine has continued its counter-offensive operations and says its forces are making gains.
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. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that its forces had seized the "strategic initiative" around what is left of the eastern city of Bakhmut - most of which has been under Russian control after the longest and possibly bloodiest battle in the war.
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. Ukrainian forces have also continued to carry out offensive operations with the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reporting significant fighting in several areas along the front line.
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. On Tuesday the UK's Ministry of Defence reported that Ukrainian forces were "highly likely" to have recaptured land in the country's eastern Donbas region occupied by Russia since 2014 - when it illegally annexed Ukraine and Russia-backed forces took control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
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. It came days after a Ukrainian commander said land had been retaken near the Russian-occupied village of Krasnohorivka.
They also note that Ukrainian forces may be intensifying efforts to strike Russian ground lines of communication in southern Ukraine. Speaking during his overnight address on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a "happy day" for Ukraine but did not give details or talk about any areas specifically.
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. The BBC has not independently confirmed this assessment and Russian authorities have not mentioned Krasnohorivka in their updates.
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. Ukrainian officials have previously retaken several settlements in the eastern Donetsk region and southern region of Zaporizhzhia but this would be the first that had been under Russian control since before last February's invasion.
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. Ukrainian forces have also reportedly made gains in the southern Kherson region, crossing the Dnipro river and establishing a foothold on its left bank, according to pro-Russian war bloggers, but again the BBC has not independently confirmed this.
Drinking water fears after dam breach Wagner march on Moscow
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. The latest possible advances come after the 24-hour mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group, which ended 200km (125 miles) south of Moscow.
Dozens of people died after areas downstream of the dam were flooded. On Saturday, the private army of mercenaries which had been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine took over the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, drove along the M4 towards Moscow and shot down Russian military helicopters and a plane on their way.
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. They were led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has played a vital role in Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, recruiting thousands to his Wagner mercenary group, especially from Russian jails.
The canals are a source of drinking water to large parts of southern Ukraine and also provide irrigation for vast areas of farmland. He has long been in a public feud with the military chiefs running the war, but that turned into open revolt as they sought to bring his forces under their command structure by 1 July.
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. The mutiny was called off after a deal brokered by Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko and Mr Prigozhin is now in Belarus where he has been promised security.
Tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus Ukrainian officials have told the BBC they hope the damage they believe the incident has done to Mr Putin's authority in Russia will ultimately lead to him losing power.
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. "I think the countdown has started," said Andriy Yermak, President Zelensky's closest adviser.
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. Deadly missile strikes continue
Meanwhile, Russia has continued to target Ukrainian cities this week with missile and drone strikes, with one of its most deadly attacks in recent months killing 12 people, including three teenagers, on Tuesday.
At least 60 more people were injured when the pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk, an eastern city in the Donetsk region which is under Ukrainian control but close to Russian-occupied parts of the country, was targeted.
Ria Pizza was a popular venue regularly hosting international journalists, volunteers and Ukrainian soldiers taking a break from the nearby front lines. Mr Zelensky says an alleged Russian agent involved in the attack has been arrested and will be charged with treason.
Since the start of June there have been several other fatal missile and drone strikes across the country including on the capital Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia and the port of Odesa in the south. A residential area of Mr Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rih was also hit.
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 and eventually regaining control of the city.Ukraine had its first major success, pushing Russia back from Kharkiv, and counter-attacking around Kherson and eventually regaining control of the city.
More than a year since the invasion, Ukraine is now hoping its latest counter-offensive can turn the war in its favour.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, Chris Clayton, 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 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 often 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