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| Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia | Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Over the past year, Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control, mostly in the east of Ukraine, and have continued their recent barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other cities. | Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Over the past year, Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control, mostly in the east of Ukraine, and have continued their recent barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other cities. |
| With US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin due to hold talks on Friday to discuss how to end the war, here is a recap of recent significant events and the situation in Ukraine. | With US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin due to hold talks on Friday to discuss how to end the war, here is a recap of recent significant events and the situation in Ukraine. |
| Russia grinds forward in the east | Russia grinds forward in the east |
| In eastern Ukraine, Moscow's war machine has been churning mile by mile through the wide open fields of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions - also known as the Donbas - surrounding and overwhelming villages and towns. | In eastern Ukraine, Moscow's war machine has been churning mile by mile through the wide open fields of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions - also known as the Donbas - surrounding and overwhelming villages and towns. |
| It has been trying to gain full control of the area along with two more regions to the west - Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Shortly after the invasion, Russia held referendums to try to annexe all these regions - in the same way it had annexed Crimea in 2014 - but it has never had them under full control. | It has been trying to gain full control of the area along with two more regions to the west - Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Shortly after the invasion, Russia held referendums to try to annexe all these regions - in the same way it had annexed Crimea in 2014 - but it has never had them under full control. |
| President Trump has said any peace deal would involve "some swapping of territories" and it is believed one of Putin's demands is that Kyiv surrenders the parts of the Donbas area it still controls. | President Trump has said any peace deal would involve "some swapping of territories" and it is believed one of Putin's demands is that Kyiv surrenders the parts of the Donbas area it still controls. |
| Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that Ukraine would reject any proposal to leave the Donbas, saying such a concession could be used as a springboard for future attacks by Russia. | Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that Ukraine would reject any proposal to leave the Donbas, saying such a concession could be used as a springboard for future attacks by Russia. |
| Summer offensive targets key towns | Summer offensive targets key towns |
| A Russian summer offensive had been progressing slowly, until troops made a sudden thrust near the eastern town of Dobropillya, advancing 10km (six miles) in a short period of time. | A Russian summer offensive had been progressing slowly, until troops made a sudden thrust near the eastern town of Dobropillya, advancing 10km (six miles) in a short period of time. |
| This rapid advance took place just north of the town of Pokrovsk, described as the hottest spot on the front line at this point of the war. | This rapid advance took place just north of the town of Pokrovsk, described as the hottest spot on the front line at this point of the war. |
| Ukrainian forces have faced superior Russian manpower on the front lines throughout the war, but reported shortages in the east have left this key Russian target increasingly vulnerable. | Ukrainian forces have faced superior Russian manpower on the front lines throughout the war, but reported shortages in the east have left this key Russian target increasingly vulnerable. |
| Experts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say Russian troops are attacking Pokrovsk itself. | |
| Analysts are concerned that thousands of Ukrainians defending the city could be at risk of encirclement from Russian troops. They note that Russian drone strikes are "severely hindering" evacuation efforts in the area. | |
| Zelensky has downplayed the latest advance, arguing that Moscow's objective is to create propaganda that "Russia is moving forward, advancing, while Ukraine is losing" before Putin meets Trump. | Zelensky has downplayed the latest advance, arguing that Moscow's objective is to create propaganda that "Russia is moving forward, advancing, while Ukraine is losing" before Putin meets Trump. |
| Fighting is also continuing around the nearby town of Chasiv Yar, although Ukraine has denied Russian claims that it has fallen. | Fighting is also continuing around the nearby town of Chasiv Yar, although Ukraine has denied Russian claims that it has fallen. |
| Why Trump-Putin talks unlikely to bring rapid end to Ukraine war | Why Trump-Putin talks unlikely to bring rapid end to Ukraine war |
| What we know about Trump and Putin's meeting | What we know about Trump and Putin's meeting |
| Why did Putin's Russia invade Ukraine? | Why did Putin's Russia invade Ukraine? |
| Little remains of Chasiv Yar after 16 months of artillery, ground and drone attacks, but occupying the high ground it sits on would allow Russia to target big cities in the area of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control, including Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. | Little remains of Chasiv Yar after 16 months of artillery, ground and drone attacks, but occupying the high ground it sits on would allow Russia to target big cities in the area of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control, including Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. |
| Russian incursion north of Kharkiv | Russian incursion north of Kharkiv |
| Further north, Russia has been pushing towards Kupyansk in east of the Kharkiv region, as part of its efforts to capture the whole of Luhansk and encircle northern Donetsk. | Further north, Russia has been pushing towards Kupyansk in east of the Kharkiv region, as part of its efforts to capture the whole of Luhansk and encircle northern Donetsk. |
| In addition to the eastern front, in May 2024 Russia began what the ISW describes as its "subordinate main effort", when it crossed the border to the north of Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv. | In addition to the eastern front, in May 2024 Russia began what the ISW describes as its "subordinate main effort", when it crossed the border to the north of Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv. |
| Several villages were seized and thousands of civilians fled. | Several villages were seized and thousands of civilians fled. |
| Recent ISW analysis of the area shows Russia has advanced near Vovchansk and Lyptsi as it tries to create a buffer zone inside Ukraine's northern borders and get within artillery range of Kharkiv. | Recent ISW analysis of the area shows Russia has advanced near Vovchansk and Lyptsi as it tries to create a buffer zone inside Ukraine's northern borders and get within artillery range of Kharkiv. |
| Putin says he wants this buffer zone to protect Russia, after Ukrainian forces captured a swathe of territory further north in Kursk last summer. Russian forces eventually drove them out, with the help of North Korean troops. | Putin says he wants this buffer zone to protect Russia, after Ukrainian forces captured a swathe of territory further north in Kursk last summer. Russian forces eventually drove them out, with the help of North Korean troops. |
| The Russians then pushed on into Ukraine but quickly became bogged down in fighting over small border villages, which keep changing hands even today. Without major reinforcements, it is unlikely Russian troops will advance much further. | The Russians then pushed on into Ukraine but quickly became bogged down in fighting over small border villages, which keep changing hands even today. Without major reinforcements, it is unlikely Russian troops will advance much further. |
| As well as the counter-offensive in the Kursk region, Ukraine has struck air bases deep inside Russia. One of these attacks involved using 100 drones to target nuclear-capable long-range bombers. | As well as the counter-offensive in the Kursk region, Ukraine has struck air bases deep inside Russia. One of these attacks involved using 100 drones to target nuclear-capable long-range bombers. |
| The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks had occurred in five regions of Russia - Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur - but stated planes had been damaged only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while in other locations the attacks had been repelled. | The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks had occurred in five regions of Russia - Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur - but stated planes had been damaged only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while in other locations the attacks had been repelled. |
| Kyiv claims the drone operation inflicted $7bn (£5.2bn) of damage to the Russian military. It hasn't been possible to verify either country's claims. | Kyiv claims the drone operation inflicted $7bn (£5.2bn) of damage to the Russian military. It hasn't been possible to verify either country's claims. |
| More recently Moscow blamed Ukrainian drones for a massive oil depot fire near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi - the venue of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. | More recently Moscow blamed Ukrainian drones for a massive oil depot fire near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi - the venue of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. |
| Meanwhile, Russia has continued to bomb Ukrainian cities, targeting a key bridge in the southern city of Kherson for the second time in a matter of days and killing 31 people in an attack on Kyiv on 31 July. | Meanwhile, Russia has continued to bomb Ukrainian cities, targeting a key bridge in the southern city of Kherson for the second time in a matter of days and killing 31 people in an attack on Kyiv on 31 July. |
| Ceasefire talks | Ceasefire talks |
| Since Trump took office at the start of 2025, the US has been pursuing an end to the war - now in its fourth year - through negotiations. | Since Trump took office at the start of 2025, the US has been pursuing an end to the war - now in its fourth year - through negotiations. |
| There have been no major breakthrough in talks, leading Trump to threaten to impose further severe tariffs on Russia, targeting its oil and other exports, if it failed to agree a ceasefire. | There have been no major breakthrough in talks, leading Trump to threaten to impose further severe tariffs on Russia, targeting its oil and other exports, if it failed to agree a ceasefire. |
| That deadline passed on the same day it was announced that Trump and Putin would meet for further talks this week. | That deadline passed on the same day it was announced that Trump and Putin would meet for further talks this week. |
| Relations between the Trump White House and Ukraine's President Zelensky seemed to have improved at the end of April, when the US and Ukraine signed a long-discussed deal to share profits from the future sale of Ukraine's mineral and energy reserves. | Relations between the Trump White House and Ukraine's President Zelensky seemed to have improved at the end of April, when the US and Ukraine signed a long-discussed deal to share profits from the future sale of Ukraine's mineral and energy reserves. |
| The deal aims to provide an economic incentive for the US - still the country's biggest supplier of military assistance - to continue to invest in Ukraine's defence and reconstruction, as well as to address Washington's concerns over the amount of aid it has already contributed. | The deal aims to provide an economic incentive for the US - still the country's biggest supplier of military assistance - to continue to invest in Ukraine's defence and reconstruction, as well as to address Washington's concerns over the amount of aid it has already contributed. |
| It will also see the establishment of an investment fund to spur Ukraine's economic recovery from the war. | It will also see the establishment of an investment fund to spur Ukraine's economic recovery from the war. |
| Three years of fighting | Three years of fighting |
| Russia's full-scale invasion began with dozens of missile strikes on cities all over Ukraine before dawn on 24 February 2022. | Russia's full-scale 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 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 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 2022, the picture had changed dramatically and, having failed to take Kyiv, Russia withdrew completely from the north. The following month, Ukrainian forces recaptured the southern city of Kherson. | By October 2022, the picture had changed dramatically and, having failed to take Kyiv, Russia withdrew completely from the north. The following month, Ukrainian forces recaptured the southern city of Kherson. |
| Since then, the battle has mostly been in the east of Ukraine with Russian forces slowly gaining ground over many months - military experts estimate between 165,000 and 235,000 Russian service personnel have been killed since the invasion. | Since then, the battle has mostly been in the east of Ukraine with Russian forces slowly gaining ground over many months - military experts estimate between 165,000 and 235,000 Russian service personnel have been killed since the invasion. |
| Ukraine last updated its casualty figures in December 2024, when President Zelensky acknowledged 43,000 Ukrainian deaths among soldiers and officers. Western analysts believe this figure to be an under-estimate. | Ukraine last updated its casualty figures in December 2024, when President Zelensky acknowledged 43,000 Ukrainian deaths among soldiers and officers. Western analysts believe this figure to be an under-estimate. |
| By Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Paul Sargeant, Chris Clayton, Kady Wardell, Camilla Costa, Mark Bryson, Sana Dionysiou, Gerry Fletcher, Kate Gaynor and Erwan Rivault | By Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Paul Sargeant, Chris Clayton, Kady Wardell, Camilla Costa, Mark Bryson, Sana Dionysiou, Gerry Fletcher, Kate Gaynor and Erwan Rivault |
| About these maps | About 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. |
| 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. |