Russia launched a wide-ranging offensive against Ukraine early Feb. 23, attacking from three directions with air strikes in cities across the country. It’s the largest attack on a European state since the Second World War. The invasion follows months of escalating tensions, and a build-up of Russian troops on all sides of Ukraine.
Here’s what that looks like in maps.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, March 8,
Monday
On Monday, March 7, Russia said it would open humanitarian corridors out of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine called it an “immoral” stunt as some of the passages led to Belarus and Russia and Russian forces continued to pummel Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, Ukraine said a Russian general was killed in the fighting around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. It was not possible to confirm the death independently. Russia has not commented. Finally, a third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded with little progress.
Sunday
On Sunday, March 6, Russian shells struck civilians trying to evacuate from Irpin, killing civilians, port city of Odesa prepared for an imminent attack. The United Nations confirmed at least 360 civilians have been killed so far in the war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky heaped criticism on Western leaders during a video statement, saying the economic sanctions imposed against Russia are “not sufficient.”
Saturday
On Saturday, March 5, authorities in Crimea have claimed that people in Kherson – a Ukrainian city under Russian control – requested political unification. The reports raised concern Moscow is creating a pretext for further annexation of Ukrainian territory. While Russia has seized several cities in southern Ukraine, Kherson is particularly critical. The former Soviet ship-building centre is the first major urban area north of Crimea, and it occupies an important geostrategic position, with bridges vital to moving troops from Crimea toward Odesa.
Friday
On Friday, March 4, Russian forces continue to surround or partly surround major centres such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Chernihiv. Meanwhile, Ukrainian operators remained at the helm of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant but Russian military forces have seized control. A fire near the facility was extinguished early Friday. Meanwhile, Mr. Zelensky appealed for Russian citizens to protest against the invasion.
Thursday
On Thursday, March 3, the United Nations reported that more than one million Ukrainians had fled the country by the eighth day of the war. With Russian forces accused of war crimes for their attacks on civilian infrastructure, “there’s been an acceleration in the last couple of days,” said Matthew Saltmarsh, a spokesman for the UNHCR. The agency is planning for four million Ukrainian refugees.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, March 2, Russian forces occupied the centre of Kherson, a strategically important city of 300,000 in southern Ukraine, in a key advance that positions them to move along the economically critical Black Sea coast. Meanwhile, Russia has suffered a major diplomatic defeat at the United Nations, losing a vote at the General Assembly by an overwhelming margin of 141 to five after an emergency debate mobilized a surge of support for a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, March 1, Russian troops took the strategically important city Kherson, in southern Ukraine, and continued to fire rockets, missiles and artillery into densely populated areas throughout the country. Meanwhile, Ukraine remained in control of its two largest cities, Kharkiv and the capital, Kyiv.
About 2,000 civilians have now died in the war, Ukrainian authorities said. A United Nations agency said at least 136 civilians have been killed, including 13 children, 400 have been injured and more than 660,000 people have fled Ukraine. Canada is providing the UN $100-million in new humanitarian assistance.
Monday
On Monday, Feb. 28, Russia launched an attack on Kharkiv, home to 1.4 million people and the country’s second-largest city. The city was “massively fired upon” by rockets, Ukraine said, killing at least 11 people, including children, and destroying dozens of houses. Ukrainian forces still also hold Kyiv, but Russian media report its forces have seized two southeastern centres: Berdyansk and Enerhodar.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian delegation met with Russian delegates in Belarus to seek an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops. The talks, which included Ukraine’s Defence Minister but not its President, were “difficult,” a Ukrainian advisor said. Further negotiations are planned for the coming days.
More than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine since the invasion, a UN agency said, with expectations that the war will displace seven million people.
Sunday
On Sunday, Feb. 27, Mr. Putin put his country’s nuclear forces to their highest level alert in response, he said, to widespread sanctions imposed by Western countries including most of Europe.
Hopes for a ceasefire rose amid, as Ukraine announced that Russian and Ukrainian officials had agreed to meet at the border between Belarus and Ukraine. It’s remains unclear when those talks would take part.
This map shows reported explosions, contested regions of Ukraine, and areas held by pro-Russian separatists or Russian troop incursions.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Kyiv said the city remains in the control of Ukraine. At least 31 people, including nine children, had died since the assault on the capital began, Mr. Klitschko said. Russian forces appeared to have pushed into at least parts of the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.
Saturday
On Saturday, Feb. 26, Kyiv was hit with air strikes – including huge, predawn explosions. Russia said it paused, then resumed its offensive – though the brief stop was hardly noticed amid the sounds of shelling and warplanes that could be heard throughout the day in and around the capital city. Saturday marked the third consecutive day of air strikes in Kyiv, as Russian units continued to push toward the city centre.
The the mayor of Kyiv, Vitaly Klitschko, declared a nightly curfew, citing what he called active saboteur groups in the city.
Ukrainian media reported that the Okhmadyt hospital, which specializes in treating pediatric cancer patients, was caught up in the fighting after nightfall.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zelensky said the fighting will continue. “We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks.” he said in a video message posted on his social media.
At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed and 1,115 people have been wounded so far.
Friday
By Friday, Feb. 25, Russia had invaded Ukraine on all sides. A night of fierce bombing in and around Kyiv was followed by air strikes and missile attacks in the city on Friday. Russian troops and armoured vehicles entered parts of Ukraine’s capital. Ukraine said it destroyed three bridges on the northern approach to the capital to slow the Russian advance, and the country’s Interior Ministry said it had distributed some 18,000 assault rifles to residents.
This map shows contested regions of Ukraine, areas held by pro-Russian separatists or Russian troop incursions.
Also Friday, Mr. Putin called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow the elected government of Mr. Zelensky. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President has called for direct talks with Mr. Putin. “Let’s sit down at the negotiating table to stop the deaths of people,” he said in a video address.
Russian air strikes and missile attacks continued to hit Kyiv throughout Friday. Amnesty International said that Russia’s war against Ukraine “has been marked by indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and strikes on protected objects such as hospitals.”
Thursday
On Thursday, Feb. 24, Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine. Air strikes targeted cities across the country and troops were advancing toward Kyiv. Russia’s assault hit the main commercial airport, Boryspil International, and Russian paratroopers appeared to be in control of Hostomel, a military cargo airport.
This map shows reported explosions and Russian military incursions into Ukraine.
Explosions reported
Russian military incursions reported
Kyiv: Cruise and ballistic missiles reportedly hit Boryspil International Airport and military headquarters
RUSSIA
Claimed by separatists, held by Ukraine
BELARUS
Chernihiv
Kharkiv
Lviv
UKRAINE
Kramatorsk
Dnipro
Ivano-Frankivsk
Luhansk
Donetsk
Kherson
Mariupol
Odessa
ROMANIA
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
Crimea
0
200
KM
Black Sea
*As of 7:30 a.m. ET
the globe and mail, Sources: graphic news
via Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC
Explosions reported
Russian military incursions reported
Kyiv: Cruise and ballistic missiles reportedly hit Boryspil International Airport and military headquarters
RUSSIA
BELARUS
Claimed by separatists, held by Ukraine
Chernihiv
Kharkiv
Lviv
UKRAINE
Kramatorsk
Dnipro
Ivano-Frankivsk
Luhansk
Donetsk
Kherson
MOLDOVA
Mariupol
Odessa
ROMANIA
Crimea
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
0
200
KM
Black Sea
*As of 7:30 a.m. ET
the globe and mail, Sources: graphic news
via Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC
Russian military incursions reported
Explosions reported
Kyiv: Cruise and ballistic missiles reportedly hit Boryspil International Airport and military headquarters
BELARUS
RUSSIA
Chernihiv
Claimed by separatists, held by Ukraine
POLAND
Kharkiv
Lviv
UKRAINE
Kramatorsk
Dnipro
Ivano-Frankivsk
Luhansk
Donetsk
Kherson
MOLDOVA
Mariupol
Odessa
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
ROMANIA
Crimea
0
200
Black Sea
KM
BULGARIA
*As of 7:30 a.m. ET
the globe and mail, Sources: graphic news via Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC
During emergency talks, NATO agreed to increase its presence of land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia, putting hundreds of warplanes and ships on alert after Mr. Putin’s military offensive.
Mr. Zelensky would later report that 137 Ukrainians had been killed, and 316 injured Thursday during the first day of fighting. There was no credible count of Russian casualties.
Wednesday
On Wednesday Feb. 23, after weeks of questioning Western intelligence reports that suggested Mr. Putin would launch a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country changed course, declaring a state of emergency. Ukraine warned its citizens to leave Russia amid the rising tensions. Reservists began reporting to their units as Mr. Zelensky braced his country for a Russian assault.
In photos: Ukraine, as state of emergency is declared
In the U.S., Mr. Biden announced a “first tranche” of sanctions against Russia, following the news that Mr. Putin would recognize two regions in eastern Ukraine. Officials in the U.S. estimated that Russia has between 170,000 and 190,000 troops – backed by large numbers of tanks, artillery, rocket launchers and warplanes – on three sides of Ukraine.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, Feb. 22, Russia’s parliament gave rubber-stamp approval to Mr. Putin’s decision to send troops to the Donbas regions of Ukraine the previous day. After the vote, Mr. Zelensky announced he was calling up the country’s military reserves, but didn’t order general mobilization. Instead, he hoped to resolve the crisis through talks with Mr. Putin or a multilateral format.
Also Tuesday, NATO’s Secretary-General and U.S. President Joe Biden said they believed Russia was planning a full-scale attack and that Kyiv, the capital city and home to 3 million people, would be the main target.
This map shows Russia’s position and the presence of NATO forces.
Tallinn
NATO
RUSSIA POSITIONS
(as of Feb. 18)
Baltic
Sea
Amari
Tapa
Multinational
battle groups
ESTONIA
Ground forces
Air bases
Air policing
mission
Naval bases
Adazi
NATO members
LATVIA
Riga
Non-NATO
Lielvarde
Moscow
Siauliai
LITHUANIA
Rukla
BELARUS
RUS.
Vilnius
Yelnya
Minsk
Malbork
RUSSIA
Orzysz
Asipovicny
Klintsy
POLAND
Pochep
Baranovichi
Marshala
Zhukova
Rechytsa
Brest
Warsaw
Voronezh
Lask
Pripyat River
Soloti
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Boguchar
Claimed by
separatists,
held by Ukraine
Transnistria:
Russian-backed
breakaway region
of Moldova
Luhansk
Volgograd
SLOVAKIA
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
Donetsk
:
HUNGARY
Dnieper
River
ROMANIA
Persianovskiy
Rostov
Craiova:
NATO multinational
brigade 4,000 troops
Korenovsk
Bucharest
Sevastopol:
Russian Black
Sea Fleet HQ
Crimea:
Annexed by
Russia in 2014
BULG.
Deveselu:
NATO missile
defence system
Black Sea
GEORGIA
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: GRAPHIC NEWS
Tallinn
NATO
RUSSIA POSITIONS
(as of Feb. 18)
Baltic
Sea
Amari
Tapa
Multinational
battle groups
ESTONIA
Ground forces
Air policing
mission
Air bases
Naval bases
Adazi
NATO members
LATVIA
Riga
Non-NATO
Lielvarde
Moscow
Siauliai
LITHUANIA
Rukla
BELARUS
RUS.
Vilnius
Yelnya
Minsk
Malbork
RUSSIA
Orzysz
Asipovicny
Klintsy
POLAND
Pochep
Baranovichi
Marshala
Zhukova
Rechytsa
Brest
Warsaw
Voronezh
Lask
Pripyat River
Soloti
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Boguchar
Claimed by
separatists,
held by Ukraine
Transnistria:
Russian-backed
breakaway region
of Moldova
Luhansk
Volgograd
SLOVAKIA
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
Donetsk
:
HUNGARY
Dnieper
River
ROMANIA
Persianovskiy
Rostov
Craiova:
NATO multinational
brigade 4,000 troops
Korenovsk
Bucharest
Sevastopol:
Russian Black
Sea Fleet HQ
Crimea:
Annexed by
Russia in 2014
BULG.
Deveselu:
NATO missile
defence system
Black Sea
GEORGIA
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: GRAPHIC NEWS
Tallinn
NATO
RUSSIA POSITIONS
(as of Feb. 18)
Tapa
Baltic
Sea
Amari
Multinational
battle groups
ESTONIA
Ground forces
Air bases
Air policing
mission
Naval bases
Adazi
NATO members
LATVIA
Riga
Non-NATO
Lielvarde
Moscow
Siauliai
LITHUANIA
Rukla
RUS.
Vilnius
Yelnya
BELARUS
Malbork
Minsk
RUSSIA
Orzysz
Asipovicny
Klintsy
POLAND
Pochep
Baranovichi
Marshala
Zhukova
Rechytsa
Brest
Warsaw
Voronezh
Lask
Pripyat River
Soloti
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Boguchar
Claimed by
separatists,
held by Ukraine
Transnistria:
Russian-backed
breakaway region
of Moldova
Luhansk
Volgograd
SLOVAKIA
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
Donetsk
:
HUNGARY
Dnieper
River
ROMANIA
Persianovskiy
Rostov
Craiova:
NATO multinational
brigade 4,000 troops
Korenovsk
Bucharest
Sevastopol:
Russian Black
Sea Fleet HQ
Crimea:
Annexed by
Russia in 2014
BULG.
Deveselu:
NATO missile
defence system
Black Sea
GEORGIA
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: GRAPHIC NEWS
Monday
On Monday, Feb. 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk at the end of a 40-minute televised address. During the address, Mr. Putin repeatedly cited Ukraine’s independence as a historical accident.
The two regions have been under the control of a Moscow-backed militia since 2014. Fighting in the Donbas region has killed more than 14,000 people over the past eight years, and Mr. Putin’s decision to send regular Russian forces into the region was expected to inflame the conflict.
Hours after Mr. Putin spoke, videos posted to social media showed Russian troops crossing the Ukrainian border into the separatist-controlled areas. At the time, there were between 170,000 and 190,000 Russian troops amassed around Ukraine’s borders.
Mr. Zelensky held emergency talks with his National Security and Defence Council that evening, and requested an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.
This map shows the build-up as of Monday, Feb. 21, with the Donetsk and Luhansk regions held by Russian forces.
RUSSIA
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Donbas
Crimea
Russian
control
Russian positions
Soloti
Ground forces
Belgorod
Air bases
Valuyki
RUSSIA
Claimed by
separatists,
held by
Ukraine
Svitlodarsk:
Shelling
intensifying
in area of key
infrastructure
Boguchar
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
LUHANSK
Strarobilk
Separatist forces:
35,000 personnel,
481 tanks, 914
armoured vehicles*
Lysychansk
Millerovo
Kramatorsk
Luhansk
Alchevsk
UKRAINE
Horlivka
Zaporozhye
Donetsk
Shakhty
DONETSK
Rostov-
on-Don
Line of
contact
Persianovskiy
Melitopol
Mariupol
Feb. 21: Putin orders
troops into Donbas
after recognising
breakaway republics
Berdyansk
40km
Yeysk
Sea of Azov
*Claims by Ukraine
graphic news, Sources: CSIS, Rochan Consulting, Reuters
RUSSIA
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Donbas
Crimea
Russian
control
Russian positions
Soloti
Ground forces
Belgorod
Air bases
Valuyki
RUSSIA
Claimed by
separatists,
held by Ukraine
Svitlodarsk:
Shelling
intensifying
in area of key
infrastructure
Boguchar
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
LUHANSK
Strarobilk
Separatist forces:
35,000 personnel,
481 tanks, 914
armoured vehicles*
Lysychansk
Millerovo
Kramatorsk
Luhansk
River
Dnieper
Alchevsk
UKRAINE
Horlivka
Zaporozhye
Donetsk
Shakhty
DONETSK
Rostov-
on-Don
Line of
contact
Persianovskiy
Melitopol
Mariupol
Feb. 21: Putin orders
troops into Donbas
after recognising
breakaway republics
Berdyansk
40km
Yeysk
Sea of Azov
*Claims by Ukraine
graphic news, Sources: CSIS, Rochan Consulting, Reuters
RUSSIA
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Donbas
Crimea
Russian
control
Russian positions
Soloti
Ground forces
Belgorod
Air bases
Valuyki
Claimed by
separatists,
held by Ukraine
RUSSIA
Boguchar
Svitlodarsk:
Shelling
intensifying
in area of key
infrastructure
Held by
pro-Russian
separatists
LUHANSK
Separatist forces:
35,000 personnel,
481 tanks, 914
armoured vehicles*
Strarobilk
Lysychansk
Millerovo
Kramatorsk
Luhansk
River
Dnieper
Alchevsk
UKRAINE
Horlivka
Zaporozhye
Donetsk
Shakhty
DONETSK
Rostov-
on-Don
Line of
contact
Persianovskiy
Melitopol
Mariupol
Feb. 21: Putin orders
troops into Donbas
after recognising
breakaway republics
Berdyansk
40km
Yeysk
Sea of Azov
*Claims by Ukraine
graphic news, Sources: CSIS, Rochan Consulting, Reuters
Russian build-up around Ukraine
By the end of January, 2022, Russia had about 130,000 troops stationed around Ukraine’s borders.
Russia military build-up around Ukraine
Around 130,000 Russian troops –equipped with everything
from tanks and artillery to ammunition and air power – are
now surrounding Ukraine on all sides, but Moscow denies
it is planning an invasion
Russian
troops
Four NATO
multinational
battlegroups:
5,000 troops
ESTONIA
25,000
Baltic
Sea
5,000
Adazi
1,000
LATVIA
Moscow
Tanks
LITH.
RUSSIA
Armoured
vehicles
Rukla
BELARUS
Yelnya
Artillery
Other
military
or air
Orzysz
POLAND
4,000 U.S.
troops
stationed
Brest
Pogonovo
Donbas:
Territory
controlled by
pro-Russian
separatists
Kyiv
Volgograd
UKRAINE
ROMANIA
Donetsk
Rostov
Craiova: NATO’s
multinational
brigade 5,000
troops
Korenovsk
Sevastopol:
Russian
Black Sea
Fleet HQ
200km
Crimea:
Annexed by
Russia in 2014
graphic news, Sources: Janes; NATO, Reuters;
The New York Times; Rochan Consulting
Russia military build-up around Ukraine
Around 130,000 Russian troops –equipped with everything
from tanks and artillery to ammunition and air power – are
now surrounding Ukraine on all sides, but Moscow denies
it is planning an invasion
Russian
troops
Four NATO
multinational
battlegroups:
5,000 troops
ESTONIA
25,000
Baltic
Sea
5,000
Adazi
1,000
LATVIA
Moscow
Tanks
LITH.
RUSSIA
Armoured
vehicles
Rukla
BELARUS
Artillery
Other
military
or air
Orzysz
POLAND
4,000 U.S.
troops
stationed
Brest
Pogonovo
Donbas:
Territory
controlled by
pro-Russian
separatists
Kyiv
UKRAINE
Volgograd
ROMANIA
Donetsk
Rostov
Craiova: NATO’s
multinational
brigade 5,000
troops
Korenovsk
Sevastopol:
Russian
Black Sea
Fleet HQ
200km
Crimea:
Annexed by
Russia in 2014
graphic news, Sources: Janes; NATO, Reuters;
The New York Times; Rochan Consulting
Russia military build-up around Ukraine
Around 130,000 Russian troops – equipped with everything from tanks and artillery to ammunition and
air power – are now surrounding Ukraine on all sides, but Moscow denies it is planning an invasion
Russian troops
Tapa
Tallinn
25,000
Four NATO multinational
battlegroups: 5,000 troops
ESTONIA
5,000
1,000
Adazi
Tanks
Riga
Baltic
Sea
LATVIA
Armoured
vehicles
RUSSIA
Moscow
LITHUANIA
Artillery
Rukla
Other military
or air instal-
lations
BELARUS
Vilnius
RUS.
Yelnya
Minsk
Klintsy
Orzysz
Asipovicny
Baranovichi
Pochep
Rechytsa
Warsaw
Marshala Zhukova
Brest
POLAND
4,000 U.S.
troops
stationed
Pogonovo
Soloti
Dnieper
River
Kyiv
Boguchar
Transnistria:
Russian-backed
breakaway region
of Moldova
Donbas:
Territory
controlled by
pro-Russian
separatists
Luhansk
Volgograd
UKRAINE
Donetsk
Persianovskiy
Tiraspol
ROMANIA
Rostov
Craiova: NATO’s
multinational brigade
5,000 troops
Korenovsk
Bucharest
Sevastopol:
Russian
Black Sea
Fleet HQ
200km
Crimea:
Annexed by
Russia in 2014
BULGARIA
Black Sea
GEORGIA
graphic news, Sources: Janes, NATO, Reuters, The New York Times, Rochan Consulting
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