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 147 Version 148
Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia
(14 days later)
Ukraine claims to have breached Russia's first line of defences in the southern Zaporizhzhia region as its counter-offensive continues to make slow progress against Moscow's forces. Ukraine has been widening the breach in Russia's defences in the southern Zaporizhzhia region as its counter-offensive continues to make slow progress against Moscow's forces.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
Ukraine has continued its counter-offensive near Bakhmut and claims to have breached Russia's first line of defences in the Zaporizhzhia region Ukraine has brought heavy equipment beyond Russia's first line of defences in the Zaporizhzhia region for the first time, analysts say
Russian drone and missile strikes against Ukraine have continued, with at least 16 killed in a daytime attack on a street market in the eastern city of Kostyantynivka It has also made advances around Bakhmut after Russia moved some of its most experienced troops from the city to the Zaporizhzhia region
It has also maintained drone attacks on Ukraine's River Danube ports, damaging the country's grain export infrastructure Meanwhile, Russia has maintained drone attacks on Ukraine's River Danube ports, damaging the country's grain export infrastructure
Ukraine 'gaining momentum' Ukraine's armoured vehicles advance
Ukrainian generals claim they have breached Russia's formidable first line of defences in the south, as the counter-offensive launched earlier this summer may be poised to gather pace. Ukrainian forces have been widening their breach of Russian defensive lines near the village of Robotyne for several weeks and analysts say they may be preparing for a new push.
One of Ukraine's top generals in the south, Brig Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskiy told Britain's Observer newspaper his troops were "between the first and second defensive lines", while an adviser to the defence minister said: "Little by little, I think we're gaining momentum." The tiny village, some 56km (35 miles) south-east of the city of Zaporizhzhia, has been a focal point since Ukraine's counter-offensive began at the start of June.
The focus of Ukraine's counter-offensive effort in recent weeks has been an expanding bridgehead around the tiny village of Robotyne, some 56km (35 miles) south-east of the city of Zaporizhzhia, with gains reported to the south of the village and to the west of nearby Verbove. Progress has been slow but analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say they have confirmed that Ukrainian forces are operating armoured vehicles beyond the Russian anti-tank ditch and dragon's teeth obstacles in the area for the first time - just to the west of nearby Verbove.
Ukrainian forces raised the country's flag over Robotyne last month, and are now trying to widen the gap to allow larger infantry and armoured units to pass through without coming under Russian fire. War in maps: Ukraine widening Russia defences breach
Analysts suggest the second and third defensive lines may not be quite as robust as the first. The ISW describes this as an "important sign of progress" but adds it is not prepared to say that Ukraine has broken through as its forces have not breached the last visible defensive positions.
Trent Maul, from the US Defense Intelligence Agency, says there is a "realistic possibility" that Ukrainian forces will break through the entire Russian defence in southern Ukraine by the end of the year. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says this is the most strategically important part of the Ukrainian counter-offensive and, if it is successful, could cut off Russia's supply lines that connect the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Crimea.
Doing so would make it all but impossible for Russia to maintain its huge garrison in Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, he adds.
Has Ukraine broken through the dragon's teeth?
However, the advance so far has been restricted to the area around Robotyne and Ukrainian forces have a long way to go if they are to achieve this aim by reaching the Sea of Azov.
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. As Ukraine has been trying to widen the breach near Robotyne, Russia has been bringing reinforcements into the region - including some of its best trained soldiers that had previously been deployed elsewhere.
Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say geolocated footage suggests Ukraine has made marginal gains north-west of the village of Klishchiivka to the south of the city and east of Orikhovo-Vasylivka to the north. The UK Ministry of Defence says the redeployments of Russia's paratroop formations, known as the VDV, have probably weakened its defences around the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which has endured some of the heaviest fighting of the war.
Missile hits shopping area It has been under Russian control for several months but Ukraine has gained some ground in the surrounding areas and the MoD says Ukraine has now secured the villages of Klishchiivka and Andriivka, about 8km (five miles) south of the city.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, with an attack on 6 September killing at least 16 people including a child. Attacks on Crimea
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "deliberate" attack on Ukraine's "peaceful city" of Kostyantynivka, which is about 17 miles (27km) from Bakhmut. Ukraine has also stepped up attacks on the Crimean peninsula in the past month - the latest a missile attack on the port of Sevastopol on 22 September.
It was one of the worst attacks on Ukrainian civilians since the spring, and took place in a busy street at about 14:00 local time (12:00 BST) as people flocked to market stalls and cafe terraces. It came just over a week after a major attack on the same city, which is the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet, using cruise missiles supplied by the UK and France that is thought to have destroyed a ship and a submarine.
Officials in Russia have not commented on the attack. They have previously denied targeting citizens as part of their offensive. It also caused significant damage to the dry docks, which are vital for maintenance of the entire Black Sea fleet.
The next day Ukraine said it had succeeded in destroying a sophisticated Russian air defence system - the S-400 - on the peninsular.
Attacks in late August destroyed another S-400 and others knocked out Russian radar positions on offshore gas platforms.
Russia's Black Sea fleet is an important target for Kyiv - it is seen as the flagship unit of Russia's navy and its ships have launched missiles at Ukraine causing devastating damage.
It has also been threatening to block the Black Sea shipping routes that Ukraine has been using to export grain - which is a particular sticking point for Kyiv currently.
Moscow pulled out of the internationally brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative in mid-July - guaranteeing safe passage of non-military vessels - arguing that Russia's own agricultural exporters were being disadvantaged.
Is Ukraine trying to retake Crimea?
Since Russia pulled out, only a handful of vessels, have been able to sail from Ukraine's Black Sea ports such as Odesa, with the first large grain shipment leaving Chornomorsk, just south of Odesa, this week and reaching Turkey on Friday.
Drone attacks on Danube portsDrone attacks on Danube ports
Russia has also intensified nightly drone attacks on Ukraine's River Danube ports, threatening to choke off one of Kyiv's vital economic lifelines - grain exports.
Moscow began to focus its drone attacks on the Danube ports after pulling out of the internationally brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative in mid-July, arguing that Russia's own agricultural exporters were being disadvantaged.
The initiative was designed to give safe passage to ships carrying grain to global markets.
Since Russia pulled out, only a handful of vessels, none of them carrying grain, have been able to sail from Ukraine's Black Sea ports such as Odesa.
The UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) says 65% of Ukraine's grain exports are now going from the ports of Izmail and Reni, on the Danube. The grain is then transported by river and canals into the Black Sea, via the Romanian seaports of Sulina and Constanta.The UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) says 65% of Ukraine's grain exports are now going from the ports of Izmail and Reni, on the Danube. The grain is then transported by river and canals into the Black Sea, via the Romanian seaports of Sulina and Constanta.
In theory it is safer, as vessels entering the Black Sea from the mouth of the river immediately enter Romanian territorial waters. In theory it is safer to go this way, as vessels entering the Black Sea from the mouth of the river immediately enter Romanian territorial waters.
Since the River Danube forms part of Ukraine's border with Nato, Russia's attacks have an added geopolitical dimension. But Russia has also been attacking Ukraine's Danube ports using drones.
At least one Russian drone has been filmed exploding across the river from Izmail, inside Romania - although Bucharest initially denied it. Since the River Danube forms part of Ukraine's border with Nato, Russia's attacks have an added geopolitical dimension - at least one Russian drone has been filmed exploding across the river from Izmail, inside Romania.
Romania eventually admitted that some Russian drone fragments had been found on its side of the river.
The BBC's international affairs correspondent Paul Adams says the government in Bucharest, which has strongly condemned Russia's attacks on Ukraine's Danube facilities, doesn't want the incident to get out of hand.
Russian drones threaten Ukraine's economic lifelineRussian drones threaten Ukraine's economic lifeline
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.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Russia-Ukraine warRussia-Ukraine war
Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr Zelensky
RussiaRussia
Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
UkraineUkraine