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Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia
(7 days later)
Ukraine's counter-offensive is now in its third month but progress remains slow. Ukraine's counter-offensive is continuing its slow progress, but developments in the country were overshadowed by reports that the man who led the recent mutiny against Russia's military leadership had been killed in a plane crash in Russia.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
Ukraine has made advances in and around two villages in the south east of the country - one in the Zaporizhzhia region and another in the Donetsk region Ukraine has made further advances in and around a village in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region, which analysts say is "tactically significant"
Russian drone and missile strikes against Ukraine have continued, primarily targeting grain and port infrastructure Russian drone and missile strikes against Ukraine have continued, with at least seven killed when a missile hit a theatre in the northern city of Chernihiv
Russia has again accused Ukraine of being behind continuing drone attacks on its territory, with three people killed in the border region of Belgorod
'Tactically significant' advances'Tactically significant' advances
Ukraine has continued counter-offensive operations, and made advances in and around two villages in the south east of the country. Ukraine has continued counter-offensive operations, and made further gains in and around Robotyne in south-eastern Zaporizhzhia and to the west of the nearby village of Verbove.
Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say the advances near Robotyne and Urozhaine are "likely tactically significant because of the structure of Russian defensive lines" and note that Russian forces have dedicated significant effort to hold the settlements. Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say the advances are "tactically significant" and are "widening the Ukrainian breach of Russian defensive lines in the area and threatening Russian secondary lines of defence".
A Ukrainian colonel has said the Russian defensive line in southern Ukraine comprises a line of minefields that is several kilometres wide, a second line of artillery and personnel and a third line of rear positions. The ISW says Ukraine's advance through Robotyne and its potential liberation will stop Russia using it as a base for counterattacks, making it easier for Ukrainian forces to launch offensive operations against the Russian secondary line of defence that runs south of Robotyne to the western outskirts of Verbove.
The ISW says the Ukraine's recent advances north and north east of Robotyne may allow Ukrainian forces to begin operating in the areas behind the densest minefields - although it adds it has no way to assess the width of the minefields. A successful advance through Russian defensive lines is likely to need a widening of the initial breach to stop Russian forces from cutting off Ukraine's attacking force, the analysts add.
Kyiv's generals have previously warned that fast results are almost impossible because of Russia's fortified defensive lines and rows of minefields. Ukraine's forces are now believed to be within about 1.25 miles (2km) of Russia's secondary lines of defences - mainly comprising anti-tank ditches and obstacles known as dragon's teeth - and may be less heavily mined than some other areas.
The battle for BakhmutThe battle for Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces have also continued operations around what is left of the city of Bakhmut - which has endured some of the heaviest fighting of the war and has been under Russian control for several months.Ukrainian forces have also continued operations around what is left of the city of Bakhmut - which has endured some of the heaviest fighting of the war and has been under Russian control for several months.
Ukraine's General Staff reported that its forces had entrenched themselves in new positions south of the city this week. However, both sides claim to have repelled attacks against their forces and it appears that neither side has advanced significantly.
It also said Russian forces had conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Bohdanivka about 7km (4.3 miles) north west of the city and Bila Hora and 14km (8.7 miles) south west of it. Missile hits theatre
Russia's ongoing missile attacks Russia has continued its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, with an attack on 19 August killing at least seven people including a six-year-old girl.
Russia has continued its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, in particular targeting Ukraine's port and grain infrastructure. Fifteen children were also among almost 150 people injured after a missile hit a theatre in the northern city of Chernihiv, which is about 30 miles (50km) south of Ukraine's border with Belarus.
Moscow has been launching near-constant attacks on Ukraine's grain infrastructure since Russia withdrew from a landmark grain deal. Although it was besieged by Russian troops in the first few months of the invasion, it was liberated by Ukraine more than a year ago and is hundreds of miles from the front line.
The deal was struck in July 2022 between Russia and Ukraine - brokered by Turkey and the UN - allowing cargo ships to sail along a corridor in the Black Sea 310 nautical miles long and three nautical miles wide. The theatre had been hosting a gathering of drone manufacturers, Chernihiv's acting mayor Oleksandr Lomako told the BBC.
After repeatedly targeting export hubs on the Black Sea, Russia has now turned its missiles and drones on ports on the Danube, which experts say Ukraine will need to export grain into neighbouring Romania. He accepted Russia's target was a "military event" but added: "It is clear that the Russians launching those missiles and those giving them orders in the middle of the day to the civilian city realised that the victims will be primarily civilians.
The port of Reni - about 200m from the border with Nato member Romania - is among those to have been hit in air strikes, including an attack on Wednesday. "There is no other way to interpret it than a war crime against civilians, yet another Russian war crime."
Ukrainian officials released photos showing destroyed storage facilities and piles of scattered grain and sunflowers in the port. The theatre's roof was badly damaged but none of those hurt were in the theatre when the missile hit.
Russia's new tactic for cutting off Ukraine's grain Drone attacks in Russia
Three people were also killed in missile attacks in the Volyn region of north-western Ukraine and more than 100 buildings were damaged in the area around the city of Lviv. Meanwhile, three people were killed by a suspected drone attack in the border region of Belgorod in Russia and a skyscraper in Moscow was damaged in another suspected drone attack on 23 August.
Western Ukraine, which borders Nato-member Poland to its west, has typically seen fewer attacks than the country's eastern and southern regions. A suspected drone attack also left one of Russia's flagship Tupolev Tu-22 bombers ablaze at an airbase south of St Petersburg this week.
Meanwhile, Russian officials said they had shot down a Ukrainian drone in Moscow, with its debris damaging the city's Expo Center. According to Russian media reports monitored by BBC Verify, there have been more than 160 suspected aerial drone attacks this year in Russia and in Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, but officials in Kyiv have never formally acknowledged launching attacks on targets in Moscow. There have also been about a dozen sea drone attacks on Russian targets in the Black Sea, including on naval bases and the Crimean bridge.
Although Ukraine hasn't claimed responsibility for specific drone strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said that attacks on Russian territory are an "inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process".
Prigozhin plane crash
However, President Zelensky has denied that Kyiv had anything to do with the plane crash in which Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed to have died along with nine others.
The crash between Moscow and St Petersburg on Wednesday overshadowed most other developments in the war and came less than three months after Prigozhin led an armed mutiny, sending Wagner forces marching on Moscow.
The mutiny ended after Russia's President Vladimir Putin said Wagner fighters could either join the regular Russian army or go to Belarus with Prigozhin as part of a deal negotiated by Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Mr Putin sent condolences and paid tribute to Prigozhin on Thursday, but stopped short of definitively confirming he was dead, and the Kremlin has said allegations that it gave an order to kill Prigozhin were "a complete lie."
Although Wagner was Russia's most effective fighting force in Ukraine, with its troops successfully taking the eastern cities of Soledar and Bakhmut after bloody battles, many analysts do not believe Prigozhin's death will have much impact on the war.
Emily Ferris, from the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank, says most Wagner troops have been out of action since the mutiny, with most either in Belarus or having joined the Russian army, and it is unlikely many will return to the battlefield at least in the short term.
What now for Wagner after Prigozhin's reported death?
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 and had advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv.Russian ground troops moved in quickly and within a few weeks were in control of large areas of Ukraine and had advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv.
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.
By October the picture had changed dramatically and having failed to take Kyiv, Russia withdrew completely from the north.By October the picture had changed dramatically and having failed to take Kyiv, Russia withdrew completely from the north.
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, Kady Wardell, 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, Kady Wardell, 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 show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research.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.
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.
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Russia-Ukraine warRussia-Ukraine war
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Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
UkraineUkraine