Russian forces invaded Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday 24 February, crossing border points from the north, east and south.
Three weeks later, Kherson is the only major city to have fallen under the invaders’ control.
Ukraine’s resistance has been stronger than many expected, and it has become clear that Russia’s initial plan of a “lightning strike” attack using overwhelming force to overthrow the Ukrainian government has failed.
Instead, Russian forces are increasingly targeting civilian areas with airstrikes and artillery. As civilian and military deaths mount, an end to the conflict soon seems unlikely.
This visual guide helps explain how the war has progressed since Russia invaded. It highlights Russian progress and areas of control to date, key flashpoints and where its advance has stalled.
After three weeks of fighting, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) with AEI’s Critical Threats Project said Russian forces were engaged in four primary efforts, with an attempt to encircle Kyiv the main thrust. The three others were centred on cities that still remained under Ukrainian control: seizing Kharkiv and linking up with forces in Luhansk; controlling Mariupol and building a land bridge from Crimea and Donetsk; and advancing westward from Russian-controlled Kherson.
But things are not going to plan. Rochan Consulting assesses that, except in southern parts of Ukraine, Russian forces’ progress has stalled.
As the humanitarian situation has become increasingly desperate, more than 3 million people have fled for Poland and other neighbouring countries. There is particular concern about Mariupol, an encircled port city of 430,000 where local officials estimate that a siege has killed more than 2,300 people and left residents desperate for food, water, heat and medicine.
Note: Events plotted are based on the Guardian’s reporting along with information from several other sources: the Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project, Rochan Consulting, Janes, the Centre for Information Resilience and the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts.
Russian areas of control are also sourced from the Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project, while arrows of Russian movement are sourced from Rochan Consulting.
Maps of troop movements and areas of control are correct at the time of publication and will be subject to change. Arrows indicating troop movements are as per sources listed on the graphics. They should not be treated as exact troop positions or size of deployments, rather as indications of the latest movements our sources are aware of.
