Ukraine maps: A look at regional developments in Russia and border requirements

President Vladimir asked in.

But finding a solution will be fraught. President Voludmir Zelinski categorically rejected Russia’s proposal, Summoning the constitution of UkraineWhich states that its lands are not retail and cannot be strong.

Source: The Institute of War Study with the Critical Threats Project for the Institute of American Institutions (the extent of Russian -controlled areas)

Note: As of August 17, 2025

New York Times

Ukraine has long said that its goal was to restore the borders that existed before Russia was first invaded in more than a decade. Mr. Putin did not show any willingness to end his endeavor to Donbas.

The agreement on new borders will require the formal character of the 750-mile interface, which has been violent-sometimes in favor of Ukraine, at other times in Russia-years.

Below is a look at Russia’s progress in Ukrainian territory since it invaded Crimea in 2014.

2014-2022: The Russian invasion of the Crimea and Donbas island

Note: As of February 24, 2022

New York Times

The Russian forces seized the Crimea, a peninsula extending from the southern coast of Ukraine, in 2014. Then, Putin, annexed the lands, a move that was not recognized internationally, after a widely disputed referendum.

Later that year, Russian -backed separatist forces also seized lands in eastern Ukraine. Violent fighting witnessed about a third of the Donbas occupied by Russian -backed forces, which declared the separation republics. The separatists against the Ukrainian army fought along a largely fixed front line until the comprehensive invasion in 2022.

2022 Russian invasion

Note: As of March 31, 2022

New York Times

Russia has achieved comprehensive regional gains in the first month of its widespread invasion of Ukraine. Its forces seized a wide corridor of lands connecting the Crimea to the Donbas. It launched a huge attack on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine; It advances deeper in eastern Ukraine.

By late March, Russia has reached the high water mark of its regional control in Ukraine.

2022 Ukrainian fighting

Note: As of November 30, 2022

New York Times

After failing to seize Kiev, Russia withdrew from northern Ukraine in April 2022 to re -focus efforts on Donbas. Later that year, the Ukrainian forces launched two huge rewards, regained most of the Kharkiv region in the east, then pushed the Russian forces across the Dnibro River in the south and regained control of the city of Jupson.

By November 2022, Russia was forced out of many areas it seized earlier in the war.

today

Note: As of August 17, 2025

New York Times

Since then, Russia has continued to move forward across most of the 750 -mile front, although it failed to achieve a major penetration.

Recently, Russia has made the largest regional gain since the summer of 2022, as it has received more than 200 square miles in July, according to open source estimates. Most of its progress caused attacks by small infantry groups, often moving on foot or motorcycle.

But Russia is still somewhat from achieving full control of Donbas, which the Kremlin usually sees as the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Moscow now controls almost all Luhansk, but Ukraine still controls more than 2,500 square miles of land in Donetsk.

The region that Ukraine keeps in Donetsk is from Most of the areas are strongly fortified From the front, two main cities include Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which has been a Ukrainian military center since 2014. The Ukrainian withdrawal from that region will witness its defensive positions. in At least 200,000 Ukrainians Also still lives on the ground.