Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine through interactive maps, charts, videos, and satellite imagery.
The world was shaken on 24 February 2022 when Russian tanks crossed the border into Ukraine, marking the start of a conflict with far-reaching consequences. This page provides a visual chronicle of the war, covering its military, environmental, and humanitarian aspects.
Latest Situation: Ukraine's Drone Assault and Territorial Gains
Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack on Russian airfields, the most significant to date, as Kyiv's forces continue their offensive. Russia's defence ministry reported that 117 drones, along with missiles, were launched on Wednesday, targeting not only the Kursk region, but also the Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod regions. A Ukrainian security official stated that the airfields in Voronezh, Kursk, Savasleyka, and Borisoglebsk were targeted to deter Russian air strikes on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the pace of Ukrainian territorial gains in the Kursk region appears to have slowed. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine's top general, indicated that Ukrainian forces are holding approximately 1,040 square kilometres of Russian territory. The Ukrainian analytical group Deep State, which collaborates closely with the defence ministry, estimates the total captured area to be around 800 square kilometres.
Maps and Charts: A Visual Timeline of the War
June 2023 Onwards: Ukraine's Counteroffensive
With slow progress in its counteroffensive and Russia showing no signs of withdrawing, Ukraine faces a protracted war requiring sustained support from its allies. This coincides with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, further demanding international attention.
June 2023: Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam
The catastrophic destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on 6 June resulted in widespread flooding, devastating towns and villages downstream. Dozens of lives were lost in the disaster amid patchy evacuation efforts in Russian-controlled territories. The flooding has also impacted Ukraine's offensive capabilities, as the counteroffensive launched in early June was hampered by the devastation.
May 2023: Russian Fortifications
Months of preparation for the summer counteroffensive allowed Russia to bolster its defences along the nearly 1,000-kilometre front line. Satellite images analysed by military experts reveal a complex network of Russian fortifications, including anti-tank ditches, extensive trenches, concrete barriers, steel obstacles, barbed wire, and minefields.
May 2023: Battle for Bakhmut
On 21 May, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the capture of the eastern city of Bakhmut, claiming it as his first significant victory since the initial stages of the invasion. This claim was met with resistance from Kyiv, which asserted that the battle was not yet over. Putin attributed the capture to the Wagner paramilitary group, supported by Russian forces, after months of fierce fighting that resulted in over 100,000 casualties and reduced the city to ruins.
Satellite imagery from the Vuhledar area, south of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, reveals the extent of the damage caused by intense artillery shelling earlier in the year.
September-November 2022: Ukraine Reclaims Kherson
A Ukrainian counteroffensive led to the liberation of 3,000 square kilometres of territory in just six days, marking the largest victory for Ukraine since the pushback of Russian troops from Kyiv in March.
Ukrainian forces continued their eastward advance, capturing the transport hub of Lyman, near the north-eastern edge of the Donetsk province, on 1 October. This hard-fought victory, achieved after nearly three weeks of fighting, paved the way for a Ukrainian advance towards Svatove, a key logistical centre for Russia following its withdrawal from the Kharkiv region.
On 11 November, Ukrainian forces entered Kherson after Russia announced the withdrawal of its forces from the southern city, signifying one of the most significant setbacks for Putin's invasion.
This strategic retreat across the Dnipro River under Ukrainian artillery fire marked the surrender of the only provincial capital captured by Russia during the war, along with the loss of key positions.
March 2022: Russia Fails to Capture Kyiv
The Russian advance towards Kyiv was thwarted by a combination of factors, including geographical challenges, tactical blunders, the effectiveness of modern weaponry, and Ukraine's innovative use of readily available resources like smartphones and foam mats.
The Refugee Crisis
The scale of the Ukrainian exodus has created one of the largest refugee crises in modern history.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War, Rochan Consulting, FT research
Cartography and development by: Steve Bernard, Chris Campbell, Caitlin Gilbert, Cleve Jones, Emma Lewis, Joanna S Kao, Sam Learner, Ãndra Rininsland, Niko Kommenda, Alan Smith, Martin Stabe, Neggeen Sadid, Liz Faunce, and Dan Clark.