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Ukraine maps: Tracking the Russian invasion Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion
(1 day later)
Russian troops continue to face sustained Ukrainian counterattacks and mounting casualties as they attempt to encircle and cut off the capital Kyiv. Russian advances across Ukraine have slowed in recent days amid mounting casualties, but attempts to encircle and cut off the capital Kyiv continue.
Here are the latest developments on day 20 of the invasion: Here are the latest developments on day 21 of the invasion:
Powerful explosions have rocked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as Russian bombardment hit residential buildings and a metro station. Kyiv's suburbs saw some heavy aerial bombardment overnight
More than 4,000 people were evacuated from frontline cities across Ukraine on Monday, with more evacuation efforts along "humanitarian corridors" planned. Russian naval forces are gathering on the Black Sea near Odesa
Most Russian military advances remain stalled despite heavy bombing, says a senior US defence official. But supporting troops around Mykolaiv remain bogged down
Siege of Mariupol continues after 20,000 were evacuated
Russia launched its attack in the early hours of 24 February from three main directions: north, south and east.Russia launched its attack in the early hours of 24 February from three main directions: north, south and east.
Targets all over the country have been attacked from land, sea and air.Targets all over the country have been attacked from land, sea and air.
Russian naval forces have also cut Ukraine off from maritime trade by controlling its Black Sea coast, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The fight for KyivThe fight for Kyiv
Russian forces are attempting to encircle and cut off the Ukrainian capital, with troops now moving towards the city from multiple positions. Russian forces are attempting to encircle and cut off the Ukrainian capital, with troops gathered at multiple positions around the city.
Two people have been killed by a Russian airstrike that hit an apartment block in south-western Kyiv. Several other residential buildings in the Svyatoshinsky district were damaged as a result of the attack, according to emergency services. Blasts were heard across Kyiv again on Wednesday morning, with residential areas in the north west of the city hit by Russian shelling.
Ukrainian generals say they are fighting to keep Russian artillery out of range of the city. Ukrainian generals in the capital have said their focus at the moment is on keeping Russian artillery out of range of the city centre.
Russian forces carried out several attacks in the northwest of the city on Monday around Bucha and Irpin, but efforts to cross the Irpin River failed, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). A 40-mile Russian armoured column to the west of the city has now dispersed, moving more artillery and rocket launchers to within range of the capital's outskirts.
Russian engineers unsuccessfully tried to build a pontoon bridge over the river. Ukrainian troops blew up the main bridge linking Irpin and Kyiv at the start of the war in an attempt to slow the Russian advance. Fighting on the ground continues in the north west suburbs of Bucha and Irpin, but Russian attempts to cross the Irpin River have failed so far.
A 40-mile Russian armoured column has now dispersed into the area west of Kyiv, moving more artillery and rocket launchers to within range of the capital. That river and others across the city, as well as difficult terrain like marshlands and bogs, have helped Ukrainian forces slow Russian advances so far.
The city is bracing itself for a ground assault, with Ukrainian forces and volunteers building new defences and creating barricades on major routes to slow any Russian attack. The city is bracing itself for a ground assault but Justin Bronk, a defence analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, told the BBC that he doubts Russia has enough ground forces in place to take the capital at the moment.
There were no attempts to launch operations by Russian forces to the east of the capital, where Ukrainian generals believe rivers and extensive marshland make the job of attacking Kyiv much harder.
War in Ukraine: More coverageWar in Ukraine: More coverage
LIVE: Latest updates from on the ground LIVE: Latest updates from Ukraine and nearby
ZHYTOMYR: Aerial attacks hit corridor city KYIV: Ukraine generals on why Kyiv will not fall easily
KYIV: Terrain will slow Russian troops PROTEST: Cracks in Kremlin's war message exposed
MERCENARIES: How Russia is recruiting reinforcements MARIUPOL: Infection and hunger as hundreds hide in cellar
IN DEPTH: Full coverage of the conflictIN DEPTH: Full coverage of the conflict
Slow Russian progress in the northSlow Russian progress in the north
Although Russian troops have pushed forward towards the outskirts of Kyiv, their progress in the north has been slower than in the south.Although Russian troops have pushed forward towards the outskirts of Kyiv, their progress in the north has been slower than in the south.
The main advance towards the capital initially came from Belarus down the west side of the Dnieper River via Chernobyl.The main advance towards the capital initially came from Belarus down the west side of the Dnieper River via Chernobyl.
Russian forces have faced serious logistical problems, with many vehicles running out of fuel, and strong Ukrainian resistance. Hostomel airport has changed hands several times. Russian forces have faced serious logistical problems, with many vehicles running out of fuel, and have faced strong Ukrainian resistance.
Russian troops have surrounded the city of Sumy, bombed vital infrastructure and cut off supply routes. The local governor says a humanitarian corridor has been agreed to allow people to leave the city and surrounding areas on Tuesday. In the north east, Russian troops have surrounded the city of Sumy, bombed vital infrastructure and cut off supply routes.
A similar attempt to encircle Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has been less successful with analysts suggesting Russian forces there have a short supply of ammunition.
Artillery attacks on residential areas of Kharkiv are being investigated by United Nations (UN) prosecutors for possible war crimes.Artillery attacks on residential areas of Kharkiv are being investigated by United Nations (UN) prosecutors for possible war crimes.
Big Russian gains in the southBig Russian gains in the south
Russian forces have made rapid gains across the south of the country, advancing east and west from Crimea.Russian forces have made rapid gains across the south of the country, advancing east and west from Crimea.
In the south-east, there is growing concern for several hundred thousand civilians trapped in the port city of Mariupol, which is encircled by Russian forces and has come under heavy fire. In the south east, there is growing concern for civilians trapped in the port city of Mariupol, which is encircled by Russian forces and has come under heavy fire.
Russian artillery has caused widespread destruction, while Russian aircraft are increasingly involved in the assault. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says 5,000 Chechen soldiers are fighting on the Russian side near the city. About 20,000 residents managed to leave Mariupol, a city of nearly half a million people, on Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian government.
A humanitarian convoy will head to the city on Tuesday to deliver "dozens of tonnes of water, medicines and food" to people who have been trapped with dwindling supplies in freezing temperatures. Around 160 vehicles managed to leave the city on Monday, according to local officials. So far, Ukrainian forces have managed to fend off Russian attempts on the ground to capture the city.
The Ukrainian military says its forces have managed to fend off Russian attempts on the ground to capture the port city. Elsewhere in the south, Russian advances on Mykolaiv in the west have slowed. Taking the city is key for the Russians to push further west towards Odesa.
Russian forces have been heading north in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, but may struggle to take the city whilst large numbers of Russian troops remain committed to the fight in Mariupol, according to the ISW. Russian naval forces off the coast of Odesa have conducted some shelling of the city in recent days but an amphibious landing would be very difficult and a sign of Russian desperation, according to Mr Bronk.
They have also been reinforcing positions around Mykolaiv. The BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner says the port city of Odesa would be a prize for Russia as it would cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea.
The BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner says the prize for Russia is the strategic port city of Odesa to the southwest, which would cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea.
Russian advances in the eastRussian advances in the east
Fighting continues in the Donetsk region. Russian forces are reported to be making steady territorial gains in the region.Fighting continues in the Donetsk region. Russian forces are reported to be making steady territorial gains in the region.
The Donetsk regional governor said barely anything was left of the city Volnovakha as a result of Russian attacks.The Donetsk regional governor said barely anything was left of the city Volnovakha as a result of Russian attacks.
In neighbouring Luhansk, Russian forces are reported to have made several unsuccessful attacks on Severodonetsk.In neighbouring Luhansk, Russian forces are reported to have made several unsuccessful attacks on Severodonetsk.
Dnipro has come under attack in recent days and is strategically important as a point of convergence for Russian troops coming from the south and east.Dnipro has come under attack in recent days and is strategically important as a point of convergence for Russian troops coming from the south and east.
Thousands flee across borders
Since the invasion began, nearly three million people have fled Ukraine, according to the UN.
It is the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.
Unicef, the UN children's agency, believes around half of them are children and young people.
How many refugees are there?
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 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 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.
From 2 March this daily assessment differentiated between "Assessed Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory" and "Assessed Russian advances in Ukraine", the latter indicating areas where Russians are believed to have launched attacks from but which they do not control.From 2 March this daily assessment differentiated between "Assessed Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory" and "Assessed Russian advances in Ukraine", the latter indicating areas where Russians are believed to have launched attacks from but which they do not control.
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 locations where there have been attacks or explosions we are using reports that have been verified by the BBC.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 locations where there have been attacks or explosions we are using reports that have been verified by the BBC.
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.