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Mapping Russian attacks and territorial gains across Ukraine
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Mapping Russian attacks and territorial gains across Ukraine

#Russia-Ukraine war #territorial gains #drone attacks #energy infrastructure #peace talks #Donbas region #front line #Vladimir Putin

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Russia occupies 20% of Ukraine's territory after four years of conflict
  • Drone attacks have tripled from 2023 to 2025, becoming the primary form of attack
  • Russia has conducted over 1,900 attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since 2022
  • Peace talks have occurred but no breakthrough has been achieved due to territorial disputes

📖 Full Retelling

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following his recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, with the conflict now entering its fifth year having resulted in Russia occupying 20 percent of Ukraine's territory despite slow front line movements. The operation, initially projected to last only a few months, has evolved into a protracted conflict of attrition centered on the mineral-rich Donbas region, where Russian forces have captured key towns like Soledar, Bakhmut, and Avdiivka at extraordinary human cost. In 2025 alone, despite heavy reported losses, Russia gained only an additional 0.8% of Ukrainian territory, with advances measured in mere meters per day in some areas like Pokrovsk, which was finally captured in early December. The conflict has seen significant shifts in tactics, with Russia accelerating its drone production and integration into its campaign, while Ukraine has employed various countermeasures including modern air defense systems and electronic warfare to protect its territory and critical infrastructure.

🏷️ Themes

Territorial Conflict, Modern Warfare, Energy Targeting, Diplomatic Stalemate

📚 Related People & Topics

Donbas

Donbas

Region in eastern Ukraine

The Donbas (UK: , US: ; Ukrainian: Донбас [donˈbɑs]) or Donbass (Russian: Донбасс [dɐnˈbas]) is a historical, cultural, and economic region on the Russia–Ukraine border, lying predominantly in Ukraine. The vast majority of the Donbas is occupied by Russia as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian war, as t...

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Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin

President of Russia (2000–2008; since 2012)

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. He has...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Donbas:

🌐 Peace process 2 shared
🌐 South Africa 1 shared
🌐 Repatriation 1 shared
🏢 Recruitment 1 shared
🌐 Mercenary 1 shared
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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This analysis highlights the protracted and devastating nature of the war in Ukraine, now entering its fifth year. It matters because it details the human and infrastructural costs, the evolution of military tactics like drone warfare, and the stalled diplomatic efforts, underscoring the conflict's profound impact on regional stability and global security.

Context & Background

  • Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
  • Russia currently occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.
  • The conflict has evolved into a war of attrition centered on the Donbas region.
  • There has been a significant increase in drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure.
  • Multiple rounds of peace talks have failed to yield a breakthrough.

What Happens Next

The conflict is likely to continue as a grinding war of attrition, with Russia focusing on incremental territorial gains in the Donbas. Diplomatic efforts, including new US-led negotiations, will persist but face significant hurdles due to irreconcilable demands regarding territory and security guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much territory does Russia currently control in Ukraine?

As of the fourth anniversary in February 2026, Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory.

What is the significance of the increased drone attacks?

Drone attacks have become the leading form of assault, causing widespread damage to energy infrastructure and civilian areas, severely impacting daily life and Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Have there been any successful peace talks?

Despite numerous rounds of talks and summits, no peace agreement has been reached, as Russia and Ukraine have fundamentally opposing demands on territory and security.

Original Source
News | Russia-Ukraine war Mapping Russian attacks and territorial gains across Ukraine On the war’s fourth anniversary, Russia occupies 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, but the front line shifts slowly. Listen to this article | 10 mins By Hanna Duggal Published On 24 Feb 2026 24 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save In the early hours of February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian state television to announce a “ special military operation ” against Ukraine. A full-scale invasion of Ukraine came days after the Russian president recognised the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 The Ukraine war in numbers: People, territory, money list 2 of 4 ‘We are not losers, we are winners’: Ukraine reflects on four years of war list 3 of 4 Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,461 list 4 of 4 Devastation and frozen frontlines: Ukraine marks four years of Russia’s war end of list “I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic,” Putin said on February 21, 2022. An operation that was only supposed to last a few months is now entering its fifth year. On the fourth anniversary of Europe’s largest war since 1945, Al Jazeera maps the ground lost and reclaimed, the drone revolution shaping the conflict and the debilitating attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russian forces. Russia controls 20 percent of Ukraine Russia launched its military operation along multiple axes, from the north towards the capital, Kyiv, from the east across the eastern Donbas region, and from the south out of Crimea Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014 . At its furthest advance in March 2022, Moscow’s forces occupied roughly 27 percent of Ukrainian territory. That early momentum, however, proved unsustainable....
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Source

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