March 28 |
Slow Russian advance
In the first hours since Russia changed its focus (it says it will now concentrate on the Donbas region), the only progress made by troops was near Mariupol, where they were said to be trying to capture the port, according to the UK Defense Ministry's intelligence update.
The city, which has been withstanding heavy attacks for a month, is a key location to control access to the Sea of Azov.
In northern Ukraine, fighting continued outside the capital, Kyiv, where loud explosions were heard before dawn, according to
The New York Times
.
There have been several Ukrainian counterattacks in the areas of Brovary in the east and Irpin in the west.
Two weeks ago, Russian advances in these areas suggested an imminent attack on the capital, but this has not yet happened, presumably due to Russia's logistical problems.
turn on
advance
Ukrainian
counterattacks
Russian
control
Besiege
city
city controlled
by the Russians
earlier
advance
recent bombing
Recent
fighting
BELARUS
RUSSIA
Chernihiv
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Brovary
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Izyum
UKRAINE
Lugansk
Slovyansk
Dnipro
donbas
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Mykolayiv
odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
MOLD.
Melitopol
Berdyansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
black sea
250km
Note: What does “control” mean?
It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy.
It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons.
It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control);
UK intelligence (besieged cities);
EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Activate advance
ukrainian counterattack
Russian control
Besieged city
city controlled
by the Russians
Recent
fighting
Recent
bombing
earlier
advance
BELARUS
Kursk
Chernihiv
RUSSIA
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Belgorod
Brovary
Yitomir
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Izyum
UKRAINE
Slovyansk
Lugansk
Dnipro
donbas
Krivoy Rog
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
nuclear power plant
Mykolayiv
MOLD.
Melitopol
odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
Berdyansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
black sea
250km
Note: What does “control” mean?
It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy.
It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons.
It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control);
UK intelligence (besieged cities);
EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Activate advance
Russian control
Ukrainian Counterattacks
earlier advance
Besieged city
City controlled by the Russians
recent fighting
recent bombing
BELARUS
Kursk
Chernihiv
RUSSIA
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Belgorod
Brovary
Yitomir
Kyiv
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Dnipro
Lugansk
Krivoy Rog
donbas
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Nuclear power station
Mykolayiv
MOLD.
Melitopol
odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
Berdyansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
black sea
250km
Note: What does “control” mean?
It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy.
It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons.
It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control);
UK intelligence (besieged cities);
EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
The eastern front is taking on special relevance following the Kremlin's strategy change.
There were reports of recent fighting in Sumy and Izyum, where the Russians were moving south while the Ukrainian defense was holding out in the north, “likely hindering Russian capabilities to resume offensive operations in the southern direction,” according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
March 27 |
No change in sight
Although the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that efforts would be focused on the Donbas region, an assessment by the ISW did not observe any changes to Russian activities near Kyiv.
According to this research institute, troops continued to try to secure positions from which to attack or encircle the Ukrainian capital.
Allies and the Ukrainian government were also wary of Russia's announcement.
turn on
advance
Ukrainian
counterattack
Russian
control
Besieged
city
City controlled
by the Russians
Earlier
advance
Recent bombing
Recent
fighting
BELARUS
RUSSIA
Chernihiv
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Brovary
Kyiv
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Lugansk
Dnipro
Donbas
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Mykolaiv
Odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
MOLD.
Melitopol
Berdiansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
Black Sea
250 km
Note: What does “control” mean? It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy. It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons. It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy. Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control); UK intelligence (besieged cities); EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Active advance
Ukrainian counterattack
Russian control
Besieged city
City controlled
by the Russians
Recent
fighting
Recent
bombing
Earlier advance
BELARUS
Kursk
Chernihiv
RUSSIA
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Belgorod
Brovary
Kyiv
Yitomir
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Lugansk
Dnipro
Donbas
Zaporizhzhia
Krivoi Rog
Donetsk
Nuclear power plant
Mykolaiv
MOLD.
Melitopol
Odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
Berdiansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
Black Sea
250 km
Note: What does “control” mean? It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy. It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons. It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy. Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control); UK intelligence (besieged cities); EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Active advance
Earlier advance
Russian control
Ukrainian counterattack
Besieged city
City controlled by the Russians
Recent fighting
Recent bombing
BELARUS
Kursk
Chernihiv
RUSSIA
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Belgorod
Brovary
Yitomir
Kyiv
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Izyum
Lugansk
Dnipro
Donbas
Krivoi Rog
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Central nuclear
Mykolaiv
MOLD.
Melitopol
Odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
Berdiansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
Black Sea
250 km
Note: What does “control” mean? It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy. It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons. It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy. Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control); UK intelligence (besieged cities); EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Two missiles hit Lviv, 60 kilometers from the Polish border, on Saturday.
And the UK Defense Ministry said on Sunday that the Russian air force continued to attack targets across Ukraine.
The battleground in northern Ukraine was largely static, said the UK intelligence report.
In those areas, counterattacks are hindering Russian attempts to reorganize.
On Saturday, Ukrainian forces launched small counterattacks near Kharkiv, in the northeast.
in the east,
UK services said they believed that Russian forces are being concentrated in order to try to surround Ukrainian troops in the Donbas, advancing from Kharkiv in the north and Mariupol in the south.
The ISW believes that Mariupol may come under Russian control soon.
Fighting continued in the city, and Russian forces continued to sustain significant losses.
March 26 |
A change in strategy?
Reports varied regarding the situation on the fronts. Russian forces on Friday said they intended to reduce their military targets and shift their focus to the Donbas region. However, an assessment by the ISW questioned this statement and considered it an attempt to adjust the narrative so that Russia’s limited progress of the past few weeks will look like it was part of the plan.
The news agency Reuters on Saturday said that reports of intense fighting in different parts of the country suggest that there will be no swift end to the conflict. Two missiles struck Lviv on Saturday afternoon, producing large columns of smoke. The mayor confirmed that the attacks damaged an industrial facility used for fuel storage and injured five people.
Active
advance
Counterattacks
Russian
control
Besieged
city
City controlled
by the Russians
Earlier
advance
Recent bombing
Recent
fighting
BELARUS
RUSSIA
Chernihiv
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Brovary
Kyiv
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Lugansk
Dnipro
Donbas
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Mykolaiv
Odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
MOLD.
Melitopol
Berdiansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
Black Sea
250 km
Note: What does “control” mean? It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy. It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons. It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy. Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control); UK intelligence (besieged cities); EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Active advance
Earlier advance
Counterattacks
Russian control
Besieged city
City controlled
by the Russians
Recent
fighting
Recent
bombing
BELARUS
Kursk
Chernihiv
RUSSIA
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Belgorod
Brovary
Yitomir
Kyiv
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Lugansk
Dnipro
Donbas
Krivoi Rog
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Nuclear power plant
Mykolaiv
MOLD.
Melitopol
Odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
Berdiansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
Black Sea
250 km
Note: What does “control” mean? It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy. It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons. It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy. Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control); UK intelligence (besieged cities); EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
Active advance
Earlier advance
Russian control
Counterattacks
Besieged city
City controlled by the Russians
Recent fighting
Recent bombing
BELARUS
Kursk
Chernihiv
RUSSIA
Konotop
Sumy
Irpin
Belgorod
Brovary
Yitomir
Kyiv
Kharkiv
UKRAINE
Lugansk
Dnipro
Donbas
Krivoi Rog
Zaporizhzhia
Donetsk
Central nuclear
Mykolaiv
MOLD.
Melitopol
Odessa
Kherson
Mariupol
Berdiansk
Sea of Azov
CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia
in 2014
Black Sea
250 km
Note: What does “control” mean? It requires exerting a physical influence over an area to prevent its use by the enemy. It could be achieved by occupying the area or by holding power over it with weapons. It does not imply any form of governance or legitimacy. Sources: Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (for advances and areas under control); UK intelligence (besieged cities); EL PAÍS and other sources (fighting and airstrikes).
There was also fighting around Kyiv.
The ISW registered minor progress by Ukrainian counterattacks north of the capital, with images confirming the presence of local troops in parts of Irpin that were earlier under Russian control.
Invading troops were also forced back around Brovary.